* In case of emergency, call Nigeria Centre for Disease Control or Federal Ministry of Health: 08093810105, 08163215251, 08031571667 and 08135050005
*Non-affected states must not relax – NMA warns
Lassa fever has claimed the lives of nine more persons in Edo, Delta and Plateau states with six of them killed in Edo, one in Delta and two in Plateau states.
The six victims in Edo State were diagnosed with Lassa fever and were brought to the Research and Control Institute at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital for treatment and possible isolation in the state.
Five of the victims were from the state while one victim was brought from Plateau State.
A source at the research centre said last night that the Chief Medical Director of the ISTH, Dr. Sylvester Okogbeni had earlier confirmed the death of the five victims who are indigenes of the state.
In a related development, the Lassa fever killed a 65-year-old lady from Ifiogwari village, Ayamelunu, Anambra State who came for treatment in Asaba, Delta State. She was first admitted to St. Joseph’s Hospital before she was referred to Federal Medical Centre, Asaba when her conditioned worsened.
The case was confirmed at the virology laboratory, Specialist Hospital, Irrua, Edo State. Two other samples sent to the same laboratory tested negative.
Meanwhile, the epidemic has claimed two more lives in Plateau, the State Government confirmed yesterday in Jos.
The state Commssioner for Health, Mr Kuden Dayin, told NAN that the victims died at the Jos University Teaching Hosital (JUTH) on Saturday.
Non-affected states must not relax – NMA
Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has cautioned Lassa fever-free states not to relent in their efforts towards maintaining a good general hygiene as the disease is not an exclusively affixed to any state and all states are prone to the virus attack.
The NMA gave the warning in a statement by its President and General Secretary, Dr Kayode Obembe and Dr Adewumi Alayaki respectively.
The statement reads in part, “Outside of Bauchi, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Edo and the other states in which the current epidemics are noted, all should know that no state in Nigeria should relax that it is not involved or affected. Lassa fever is not exclusive to any state because of the random population-mixing pattern in the country.
“In fact, all states have the potential to be at risk of being affected if we neglect to observe basic personal and communal hygienic practices at the individual, family and community levels.”
They advised that individuals should not panic as the Federal Government has risen up to the task and, as such, individual states, local governments, communities, societies and families should rise up and reciprocate the responses: “Listen to radios, TV and other mass media and keep yourselves properly informed on the present Lassa situation in the country as well as especially what you should do in the interval. Improve/increase your personal hygiene along the lines outlined as well as help your relatives, neighbours and friends to do the same.
“Ensure that your house is free from rats, all foods and drinks properly covered and/or stored, as may be needed. Encourage all cases of fevers to attend a medical and properly manned health facility very early and do not eat rats and improve rat control in your personal houses.”
-Leadership