IRRUA-No fewer than 58 lives have been lost to the outbreak of the Lassa Fever virus in Nigeria.
The 53 were among the 83 people diagnosed with the disease.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, disclosed this when he inspected facilities at the Lassa Treatment Centre located inside the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, (ISTH) Irrua, Edo
State.
Speaking with journalists after the facility tour, Dr. Ehanire said the Federal Government was working towards ensuring that the yearly outbreak of the Lassa fever disease in Nigeria is ended.
He said, “we have been trying to curtail Lassa fever which is going down now and Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital is one of the centres of excellence.
“This hospital is one of the centre with special facilities and I came to see how well the hospital is coping.”
“I have seen what they are doing. I have seen development partners working with them. I have seen the equipment and the challenges and we are looking at ways to make sure Lassa Fever does not become a yearly occurring problem.”
The Chief Medical Director of ISTH, Dr. Sylvanus Okogbenin also said that the Lassa fever was winding up, and added that they working to ensure future epidemic do not occur.
“things are winding up. What we are doing is preparing to ensure other epidemic don’t look like this. The peak has gone down”, he said.
