Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state today March 3, declared a state of emergency on the Lassa fever virus in state.
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.
“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.
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. In another development, the Lagos state government has uncovered the cause of the death of about 25 children in Eti-Osa local government area of the state.
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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