…govt revving up awareness campaigns, boosting response, surveillance activities – Prof. Akoria
Edo State has recorded four new deaths from Lassa fever, raising the total number of fatalities from the disease in the state to 20.
The Edo State Commissioner, Prof. Akoria Obehi, who disclosed this while briefing journalists in Benin City, said the new deaths were recorded in three local government councils in the state, including Etsako West, Etsako Central and Owan East LGAs.
The Commissioner said that most of the deaths recorded from the disease in the state are persons who were unwell and failed to report to a proper hospital for care until they developed complications, urging residents to “take responsibility to work with the Ministry of Health, observe preventive measures and report early symptoms suspected to be malaria or any other sickness that present like malaria so as to receive early and proper care.”
Noting that the state’s case fatality rate has increased to 13 percent, Prof. Akoria said the state has now recorded a total of 155 confirmed cases from 11 local government areas of the state.
Decrying the steady rise of Lassa fever infections in the state, the Health Commissioner said Etsako West, Esan West, and Esan North East are the most affected local councils in the state with 63, 36, and 32 confirmed cases respectively.
She said the 20 deaths recorded in the state were spread among Etsako West, 6; Esan North East, 5; Esan West, 3; Etsako East, 2; Etsako Central, 2; Oredo, 1 and Owan East, 1.
Prof. Akoria also noted that the state also has 54 persons who are currently on admission at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), noting that the patients are receiving medical care and responding to treatment.
She charged, “While the government is stepping up efforts to curb the spread of Lassa fever across all Edo communities, including improving sensitization campaigns, as well as surveillance and response activities, we urge everyone to be aware and take responsibility to work with the ministry of health and other partners, observe preventive measures against the spread of the disease and report early symptoms suspected to be malaria or any other illnesses that present like malaria.”
