Lassa Fever ravages Edo, 17 dead, 136 cases reported

By Jethro Ibileke

Edo State Government has disclosed that no fewer than 136 people have been infected with Lassa fever in the state.

Of this figure, the government said 17 people have lost their lives to the dreaded animal-borne acute viral disease.

The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria, disclosed this in a statement released on Wednesday through the office of the Special Adviser (media projects) to Governor Godwin Obaseki, after the weekly Edo State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting.

Akoria noted that the 136 cases were recorded since the recent outbreak of the epidemic in the State, and with a 13 percent fatality rate.

According to her, “As of today, we have 136 cases of Lassa fever reported. Two local government areas are leading, including Etsako West and Esan West councils, which account for over 60 percent of total cases.

“The case fatality rate, which is the number of people that have died as the result of Lassa fever, is 13 percent of 100 people who have suffered from Lassa fever.”

Akoria further disclosed that the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has reconstituted the committee to boost government’s response to the outbreak of Lassa fever epidemic.

The committee is headed by the State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

“The decision today was to intensify the ongoing response by getting the full weight of the government to bear upon what has been going on.

“The Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, is going to be leading this response and we are hoping that with the concerted effort that we will be putting on board, we will win the campaign against Lassa fever in the State,” she added.

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Andrew Emwanta, has disclosed that the government has made it mandatory for all its officials, including Commissioners to treat all files within 72 hours.

“The EXCO also approved a 72-hour rule that makes it mandatory for officials of the Edo State Government, including Commissioners, to treat files that come to them. This means that no file is expected to stay beyond 72 hours untreated. A new query system has been set up for defaulters,” Emwanta said.