LASSA FEVER: Spread to 17 States Confirmed as Number of Deaths Hit 63

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, confirmed yesterday during the emergency National Council of Health meeting in Abuja that the dreaded Lassa fever disease has spread to 17 states as well as the FCT, claiming 63 lives out of the 212 suspected victims from 62 local government areas in affected states.

The affected states listed are Bauchi, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Nasarawa, Lagos, Delta, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Zamfara and Kogi.

He added that there is high level of denial and conspiracy across some states, adding that health managers should not deceive executives by the pretence and silence.

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He also noted, “With the resources available we will collectively eliminate the disease in Nigeria soon.We have special facilities around us and we have adequate human resource to address the challenge.”

He announced that the six most affected states; Niger, Nasarawa, Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi and Ondo, will have Lassa fever diagnostic centres in addition to the six existing Lassa fever treatment centres; Lassa fever Treatment Centre, Irrua, Edo, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), University College Hospital Ibadan, and the National Centre for Disease Control, Asokoro, Abuja.

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Remember, symptoms of the disease include high fever for more than two days, vomiting, bleeding from the nose, mouth and anus. Maintaining proper hygiene and ensuring food and food items are properly covered and preserved from rodents curbs the chances of falling prey.

Culled from Leadership