The Edo State Government has announced four more deaths from Lassa fever, bringing the total number of fatalities from the disease in the state to 20.
The Edo State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akoria Obehi, who revealed this to journalists in Benin City, said the new deaths occurred in three local government areas in the state, namely Etsako West, Etsako Central and Owan East LGAs.
The Commissioner said that most of the deaths from the disease in the state were people who were sick and did not go to a proper hospital for care until they had complications. She urged residents to “take responsibility to work with the Ministry of Health, observe preventive measures and report early symptoms that look like malaria or any other sickness that resembles malaria so as to get early and proper care.”
Prof. Akoria said that the state’s case fatality rate has risen to 13 percent, and the state has now recorded a total of 155 confirmed cases from 11 local government areas of the state.
The Health Commissioner lamented the steady increase of Lassa fever infections in the state, saying Etsako West, Esan West, and Esan North East are the worst hit local councils in the state with 63, 36, and 32 confirmed cases respectively.
She said the 20 deaths in the state were distributed 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 said that the state has 54 people who are currently being treated at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), noting that the patients are getting medical care and recovering.
She said, “While the government is intensifying efforts to stop the spread of Lassa fever in all Edo communities, including improving awareness campaigns, as well as surveillance and response activities, we urge everyone to be alert 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 that seem like malaria or any other illnesses that appear like malaria.”
