State of emergency declared over Lassa fever outbreak
– Ebonyi state government doing its best to contain the Lassa fever outbreak
– 49 suspected Lassa fever cases recorded in the state so far
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state today March 3, declared a state of emergency on the Lassa fever virus in state.
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state has declared a state of emergency on the Lassa fever virus.
Speaking to journalist in Abakaliki on behalf of the governor, the secretary to the state government, Prof Ben Odoh said the state government was working tirelessly to contain the spread of the disease which has so far claimed three lives out of the five confirmed cases.
Prof Ben Odoh said the state has also recorded 49 other suspected cases, National Mirror reports.
READ ALSO: NDDC donates Lassa fever kits to states in Niger Delta
“Before now, samples were taken to Edo State for tests and but the governor has directed that we build a centre here at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki and work has already started on the building. In fact, work is going on there day and night and it should be ready in three weeks time”, said Prof Odoh.
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) statistics showed that reported cases of the Lassa fever disease, confirmed and suspected have risen above 180 with a total of 101 deaths since August, 2015.
Deaths from the virus were recorded in the nation’s political capital, Abuja, Lagos and 14 other states, according to the NCDC.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Panic in Ogun state as first Lassa fever victim dies
The Lassa fever outbreak was announced in January, months after the first case occurred in August with subsequent deaths reported in 10 states, including Abuja.
The disclosure was made by the state commissioner of health, Dr, Jide Idris, that measles was the cause of the deaths of the children.
He said this on Monday, February 22, at a news briefing in Lagos where he stated the results of blood samples sent to three laboratories in the state tested positive for measles.
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