From Joseph Uchenna, in Makurdi
Two persons have died of Lassa Fever in Benue State a week after 7 persons were reportedly infested by the disease.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Paul Ogwuche disclosed this on Thursday in Makurdi, stating that in the last 2 weeks there has been upsurge in incidence of Lassa Fever in the State.
He said two (2) more cases have been recorded in their dashboard bringing the figure to 9, intimating that 5 returned positive with two (2) mortality.
He added that the cases are predominantly in Buruku and Makurdi local government areas, disclosing too that two(2) health workers were infected.
Said he, “As we speak now, there are 9 suspected cases of Lassa Fever in our dashboard. About 5 are positive and 2 of them, mortality. Amongst the 5, two (2) came out positive.
“There are cases that involved 2 health workers. The cases involved are in Buruku and Makurdi. 2 cases came from Buruku diagnosed in Makurdi. As a ministry we have responded appropriately. We have our incident rapid response team. We have activated our public emergency health center and the neccessary mechanisms.
“We have stepped up our health campaign enlightening people on how they can avoid this disease. You have to look at your hygiene and sanitation around you. Avoid rodents(rats) which are the primary carriers. Cases are high now especially during the dry season when grasses are burnt, these rodents are looking for hiding places and they go into homes and if you leave your food especially the raw ones open, they will defecate into it. We also, stepped up our surveillance because one of the best way to handle is early diagnoses and treatment.
The two (2) cases diagnosed today though not symptomatic but we want to take them into isolation so they we can start all the protocols of managing them. We have disease surveillance officers in all the local governments and we have heightened their suspicion and are in contact with them. If they see any symptoms like prolonged fever, body weakness, tiredness and bleeding from the mouth and other openings in the body, they should heighten surveillance on them so that those suspicion, we will take their samples, investigate and if possible, will Institute treatment as soon as possible.
“We are also, looking at the laboratory components and because of the worrying increase, we are holding a meeting with all stakeholders at the meeting. We are involving the Federal Medical center because they host the molecular laboratory, we are bringing the Teaching Hospital where the State isolation center is situated, WHO, State Epidemiology and donor partners so that we can arrive at solution and make sure this deadly disease is contained”.
