Background Lassa fever (LF) is a zoonotic infectious disease of public concern in Nigeria. The infection dynamics of the disease is not well elucidated in Nigeria. This study was carried out to describe the pattern of infection, case fatality rate and spread of lassa virus (LASV) from 2017 to 2020. Methods Weekly epidemiological data on LF from December, 2016 to September, 2020 were obtained from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The number of confirmed cases and deaths were computed according to months and states. Descriptive statistics was performed and case fatality rate was calculated. Distribution and spread maps of LF over the four years period was performed on ArcMap 10.7. Results A total of 2787 confirmed cases and 516 deaths were reported in Nigeria from December, 2016 to September, 2020. Increase in number of cases and deaths were observed with 298, 528, 796 and 1165 confirmed cases and 79, 125, 158 and 158 deaths in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively. Over 60% of the cases were reported in two states, Edo and Ondo states. The LF cases spread from 19 states in 2017 to 32 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2020. Ondo state (25.39%) had the highest of deaths rate from LF over the four years. Case fatality rate (CFR) of LF was highest in 2017 (26.5%) with CFR of 23.7, 19.6 and 13.4% in 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively. The peak of infection was in the month of February for the four years. Infections increases at the onset of dry season in November and decline till April when the wet season sets-in. Conclusion There is an annual increase in the number of LASV infection across the states in Nigeria. There is need to heighten control strategies through the use of integrated approach, ranging from vector control, health education and early diagnosis.

Background and Objective: Soil transmitted helminthes (STH) infection affects more than two billion people worldwide with Nigeria having the highest burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined the spatial and potential distribution of STHs in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Secondary data were assessed from 98 journals and the prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and hookworms were extracted from them. The spatial distribution of the parasites was performed using DIVA-GIS software. The climatic variables (temperature and precipitation) and elevation variable (altitude) were used in the modeling of the parasites using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling tool. Results: The average prevalence of A. lumbricoides, Hookworms and T. trichiura in Nigeria is 25.17%, 16.86% and 9.74% respectively. Delta State (62.08%) had the highest infection of A. lumbricoides followed by Oyo (55.50%) and Kano (44.40%) while 14 states had prevalence of below 20.0%. Akwa Ibom and Kano States had the highest average prevalence of 55.80% for hookworm infections. Delta, Oyo and Benue States had prevalence of 38.08%, 35.80%, and 35.40% respectively while 22 states had prevalence of hookworm below 20.0%. T. trichiura had the least average prevalence among the three STHs. Akwa Ibom State had the highest prevalence for this parasite with 40.40% followed by Lagos, Delta and Kwara States with prevalence values of 24.85%, 24.05% and 23.37% respectively. Other states in the Federation had prevalence values of less than 12% with Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and Borno States having the least prevalence of 0.80 and 0.90% respectively. The potential distribution that reveals than southern Nigeria has been at high risk of infections. Precipitations of the wettest month, altitude, precipitation of the warmest quarter are the major environmental variables that affect the distribution of STH. Conclusion: Nigeria is characterized by varying prevalence of STHs. All states in Nigeria are endemic for STHs. Southern Nigeria was observed to have higher prevalence of STHs due How to cite this paper: Yaro, C.A., Kogi, E. and Luka, S.A. (2018) Spatial Distribution and Modeling of Soil Transmitted Helminthes Infection in Nigeria. Advances in Infectious Diseases, 8, 82-107. 83 Advances in Infectious Diseasesto the high level of precipitation and low altitude of these regions. "The higher the altitude, the lower the prevalence of STH infections. The higher the temperature and precipitation, the higher the prevalence of STH infections.

Soil-transmitted Helminths (STHs) are one the leading causes of global health problems especially in poorest and deprived communities where implementation and control are difficult to maintain. Soil-transmitted helminthiasis is caused by parasitic nematodes transmitted through contact with parasites eggs (Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura) or larvae (hookworms) and are responsible for more than 40% of worldwide morbidity from all tropical infections [1-3]. A recent report estimated that 2 billion people are infected with STHs worldwide, with 819, 439, and 439 million people infected with A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, and hookworms, respectively [3,4]; about 610 million school-age children are at risk of infection with STHs [4].

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Problem statement:A study to determine the composition of tsetse flies species was conducted between January and December, 2007 in Kamuku National Park, Nigeria, using Biconical and Nitse traps. Tsetse flies were trapped along gallery forest in five streams for two trapping days and were collected daily. Approach: All tsetse flies caught were identified to species level, sexed, separated into teneral and non-teneral, hunger staged and Mean Hunger Stage computed. Fly density were calculated, the age structure examined using wing fray techniques for males and ovarian technique for females; the reproductive status of female flies were assessed. Two species of tsetse flies (Glossina palpalis palpalis robineau-desvoidy and Glossina tachinoides Westwood) were caught in total of five hundred and two (502) flies. Out of these, 309(61.6%) Glossina tachinoides and 193(38.4%) G. palpalis were caught. Male catches (309, 61.6%) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than females (193, 38.4%) also, the teneral flies (289, 57.6%) were more than the non-teneral flies (213, 42.4%). The Mean Hunger Stage (MHS) of 3.6 obtained indicated a hungry fly population. Fly density was generally low (0.1fly/trap/day) and varied between months with highest density (3flies/trap/day) occurring in February and lowest (0.2 fly/trap/day) in July. Results: The estimated mean age for males was 11 days and females were 8 days. The insemination rate of 93.8% generally was high, G. tachinoides recorded 95.5% more than G. palpalis of 91.6%. Whereas parity rate (25.8%) was low; G. palpalis was 37.4% while G. tachinoides parity rate is 17.2%. Conclusion: The study shows that two species of tsetse flies abound in the park although at low densities their presence may bear semblance to Trypanosomiasis and its impact to ecotourism.

The resistance status of Anopheles gambiae s.l. Giles, 1902 and Aedes aegypti Linnaeus, 1762 collected from different breeding habitats in southern guinea savanna of Kaduna State was investigated. The larvae were collected from swamps, rock and mountain pools, reared and fed with baker's yeast and grounded biscuits in separate containers to adulthood. Susceptibility test was conducted on the adult mosquitoes using 0.75 % permethrin impregnated paper embedded in World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic test kit following standard procedure. Knockdown rate was recorded at 5 min interval for 1 hr and the final mortality was determined at 24 hr post exposure time. Fifty (50) and ninety five (95) percent knockdown times (KDT50 and KDT95) were evaluated using the probit analysis. The result shows that the knockdown for all mosquitoes collected from the three breeding habitats were 100 %. The percentage mortalities for Anopheles from swamps, rock pools and Aedes from mountain pools were 100 % while 98.7 % was obtained for Anopheles from mountain pools. Fifty (50) and ninety five (95) percent knockdown times were between 10.72-12.45 minutes and 21.38-24.56 min respectively. The results show that all mosquitoes tested are susceptible to 0.75 % permethrin which suggest that the insecticide can be used effectively for the control of these vectors in the ecological zone.

Background: The negative impact of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in Nigeria is enormous posing serious public health issues. This study was undertaken to investigate the impact of health education intervention on re-infection of STHs in pupils of rural schools of Kogi East, North Central Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 45 schools to determine the prevalence of STHs in the 9 local government areas of Kogi East. Stool samples were collected and examined for STHs. A total of 10 schools with the highest prevalence were selected for the follow-up study, 5 schools were dewormed and given health education (DHE) intervention while the other 5 schools were dewormed only (DO). Reassessment of schools for re-infection was carried out for a period of 12 months. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Student t-test was used to make comparison between interventions in the incidence of infections. Analysis was carried out at p<0.05.Results: Re-infection with STHs was observed from the 7th month of both interventions. In the 36th week (9th month), incidence observed in schools given DHE schools (4.79%, 8 pupils) were higher than in DO schools (3.19%, 5 pupils), no significant difference (t = -0.840, p = 0.426) between the interventions. Also, at the 48th week (12th month), no significant difference (t = -0.346, p = 0.738) between the DHE schools (7.19%, 12 pupils) and DO schools (6.37%, 10 pupils). Hookworms had the highest incidence in DHE (6.6%, 11 pupils) and DO (6.4%, 10 pupils) schools among the STHs. A. lumbricoides incidence was low and was observed in a school given DHE (0.6%, 1 pupil). S. stercoralis was not observed throughout. At 48th (12th month), an incidence of 6.37% was observed compared to 32.03% prevalence at baseline in the DO schools and an incidence of 7.11% and prevalence of 36.09% in the DHE schools. Significant difference (p<0.05) exist between baseline and intervention.Conclusion: Non-dewormed individuals at the community levels may have contributed to the poor performance of health education. Community-based deworming should be encouraged alongside improvement in the water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructures at both school and home.

The need for a reliable risk map in the control of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in Kogi East, North Central Nigeria is very important. This study was carried out to determine the effect of environmental risk factors on geospatial distribution of STHs. Epidemiological data were obtained from a district-wide survey conducted in 2018 in Kogi East. Edaphic and climatic factors were downloaded as spatial layers from international recognised health data resources centres. A total of 24 environmental factors were used in determining the risk map of STHs using MaxEnt tool. The predicted high-risk areas of A. lumbricoides, hookworms and S. stercoralis were the central part of Kogi East covering parts of Dekina, Ofu, Igalamela-Odolu, Olamaboro and Omala LGAs with probability of 0.8 to 1.00. Among the factors investigated; Temperature [mean diurnal temperature range (BIO2), temperature annual range (BIO7) and maximum temperature of the warmest month (BIO5)], precipitation [precipitation of the wettest quarter (BIO16)], and soil clay contents were the five factors that exerted most significant influence on the geospatial distribution of STHs in Kogi East, Nigeria. Public health control programmes on STHs should target high-risk areas by including them in mass drug administration, health education as well as provision of water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructures.