No fewer than 15 persons, including a woman, single mother and two medical doctors were killed by Lassa fever, while some 82 others got infected in nine states and 13 local government areas across the country.
The states, according to Blueprint’sfindings, are Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi, Ogun, Delta and Kano.
The latest figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) tagged Lassa fever Situation Report Epi Week 02: 06–12 January 2020 showed the number of new confirmed cases for the same period in 2019 was 60.
In the latest NCDC report released Wednesday, the number of deaths decreased from 16 for the same period in 2019 to 14 and the overall case fatality rate (CFR) for 2020 (17.1 per cent) which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2019 (28.7 per cent).
The report also indicated that of all confirmed cases, Edo and Ondo had 38 per cent apiece, while Ebonyi had 11 per cent, with the predominant age group affected put at 11 to 40 years and male to female ratio at 1:1.
According to the report, the outbreak had caused panic in Ondo, with many residents in fear that the disease might spread from the northern part of the state where it frequently breaks out to other parts.
A Director of Public Health in Enugu state, Dr Boniface Okolo, had warned Nigerians to desist from soaking garri, which is highly exposed to the deadly disease.
For the past five years, the northern district of Ondo, particularly Owo town and neighbouring communities, had suffered recurring outbreak of Lassa fever almost yearly, leaving the people of the areas in fears.
A hospital source who spoke under anonymity said quite a lot of patients had been affected by the deadly disease.
Kano
Meanwhile, the Kano state Commissioner for Health, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, has confirmed the outbreak of Lassa fever in Kano following the death of two male doctors and one female patient at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH).
Confirming the outbreak at a press briefing in Kano, Tsanyawa said following the outbreak, the state government swung into action and moved to curtail further spread of the viral disease. He said government had reactivated the state isolation centre at Yargaya town for those affected.
The commissioner further said, in its response to the development, effected the activation of Rapid Response Team (RRT), and summoned the of emergency preparedness and response committee meeting in addition to repositioning of drugs and other consumables.
He, however, stated that in addition to the emergency measures effected, government planned to engage traditional and religious institutions as well as the production and airing of radio jingles.
Tsanyawa also said the sensitisation of health personnel and the production and distribution of IEC materials were similarly carried out.
He said it is also on record that few years ago; Kano was able to manage and treat two (2) confirmed cases of Lassa fever patients in the Isolation centre.
The victims were discharged from the centre during a ceremony graced by stakeholders and key government representatives..
Asaba
Reports from Asaba, Delta state capital, showed there was panic resulting from the death of single mother who died of the disease at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba.
The single mother was reportedly taken to the centre and passed on a day after.
Three others, according to Blueprintfindings, were also infected and receiving treatment.
The situation had created some tension within the capital city, as referrals and death increasingly occurred at the hospital following the outbreak.
It would be recalled that a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Asaba, was infected with Lassa fever.
The corps member identified as Yinka took ill Wednesday last week and was rushed to the FMC Friday by his colleagues for treatment.
He was said to have been referred to Irrua specialist hospital in Edo state after his status was confirmed Monday in Asaba.
The state government was yet to speak on the development since the outbreak.
When contacted, FMC Chief Medical Director Victor Osiatuma said the incident can only be confirmed by the commissioner for health, Dr Mordi Ononye, who didn’t pick his calls when one of our reporters called his line.
