Ebonyi state declares state of emergency over Lassa fever

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.
Speaking to journalist in Abakaliki on behalf
of the governor, the secretary to the state
government, Prof Ben Odoh said the 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, the NCDC said.
The NCDC said officials have distributed
large quantities of drugs, including Ribavirin
tablets and bottles of hand sanitizers across
the country to tackle the disease.
It, however, reported that logistics support
and delayed reporting of cases by states are
dogging the fight against Lassa fever.
The 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.