Nigeria: Hepatitis E outbreak reported in Borno state

Event

The number of Hepatitis E cases continues to rise after the Nigerian Ministry of Health declared an outbreak of the illness in Borno state on June 18. As of July 2, 146 confirmed and suspected cases had been recorded by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) in three areas: 112 cases in Ngala, 19 in Mobbar, and 14 in Monguno.  

The World Health Organization (WHO) has attributed the outbreak to the ongoing political crisis in the region, which has displaced over 1.9 million people and led to an increase in migrants to the Borno state area. The mass migration has caused overcrowding, which has strained sanitation and healthcare capabilities. The number of Hepatitis E cases is expected to continue to rise in the coming weeks in the absence of a quick public health response.

Context

Hepatitis E is primarily transmitted via contaminated water. Although the infection generally goes away on its own within two to six weeks, it can worsen and develop into fulminant hepatitis (especially among pregnant women), which can be fatal. Symptoms of the disease include fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, itching, rash, or joint pain. In some cases, jaundice or hypertrophy of the liver may occur.

Advice

Individuals in the affected region are advised to follow personal hygiene practices, such as regular hand-washing with purified water, and maintain adequate supplies of safe drinking water. Avoid drinking water and/or ice of unknown purity (tap water).