Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has confirmed the outbreak
of Lassa Fever in the state, saying laboratory tests have confirmed a
total of 36 cases, including 9 deaths.
Akeredolu, who made the revelation in Akure during a live broadcast
on Saturday night, said a total of 102 suspected cases of Lassa Fever
had been reported in eight local government areas of the state.
“Thirty six of 79 cases have been confirmed with laboratory results, including nine deaths.
“Patients are being managed at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo,
while confirmatory tests are done at Irrua Specialist Teaching
Hospital, Irrua, Edo State.
“At present, 127 hospital contacts and 308 community contacts
were line-listed in all the affected local government areas while 30 had
completed their follow-up,” Akeredolu said.
The governor disclosed that the government had reactivated
Emergency Preparedness and Response Team at state and local government
level to contain the spread of the disease.
He said this was in addition to active surveillance and contact tracing in the affected local government areas.
“Sensitization and community mobilization are also going on in
all local government areas for traditional rulers, religious leaders,
political leaders, market women and other stakeholders.
“Publicity is also ongoing through radio jingles, radio and
television discussions in our media houses while educative materials
such as handbills, flyers and posters have been produced and being
distributed,” he said.
According to him, vehicles have been dedicated for transportation of samples and patients to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital.
He added that the Infectious Disease Isolation Unit at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, had also been expanded.
Akeredolu explained that some Personal Protective Equipment, drugs,
and hospital beds were donated to FMC, Owo, while more nurses were
deployed to the Treatment Centre to support management of the patients.