Lassa fever: 34 dead as 227 cases recorded in Ondo state
Lassa Fever has killed 34 persons as well as 227 confirmed cases recorded in six local government areas, which include Owo, Ose, Akure South, Akoko South-West, Akure North and Ondo West of Ondo State between January and April, 2022
Penpushing reports that, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Prof Francis Faduyile made the disclosure on Sunday adding that there were three confirmed cases among health workers in the state.
“None of the health workers died, because they reported early as a result of high index of suspicions and early presentations. They did well and recover quickly, although there could still be one or two cases during the rainy season” he said.
Penpushing further reports that, the Special Adviser explained that the prevalent period of the disease was during the dry season, noting that , the state in the last was the epicenter of Lassa fever in Nigeria, assuring that the state is working towards the eradication
“Ondo State, in the last epidemic, was the epicentre of Lassa Fever in Nigeria, and the state government looked into the cause and ways to prevent the disease. The first way to prevent Lassa is to stop bush burning, and we have sensitised against this. Besides, don’t put your food where rats have access’, he stated.
“There is also ‘deratification’, that is to kill all the rats which the state government has done and was successful.Then we had an index of suspicion so that people can start testing for Lassa early’, Faduyile.
“A lot of our health workers have been put on high awareness because those that are positive should have prompt treatment. Ondo State government has also improved the Infectious Disease Hospital, Akure, to a standard that can take care of Lassa Fever. Also, the Federal Medical Centre in Owo has an area that can treat Lassa. We have also seen that the sanitation of the area is important,” he said.
Penpushing also reports that, he explained that the state government was working on the refuse dump site in Owo, explaining that a new dumpsite would be created, while more vehicles would be used to get refuse to the site.
The Special Adviser affirmed that the area would be treated so that the rodents would not leave their habitats inside the forest for the city, stressing that fever cases in the state, in the last couple of weeks, had reduced drastically.
Penpushing reports that, Faduyile while speaking on the legacy of the present administration, which he claimed, would be known for its sustainable healthcare management, and that government was putting a sustainable health management in place.
“We don’t want to do something that is not sustainable, so we are putting a sustainable Healthcare management in place with our health insurance scheme. Ondo State tarries high amongst the committee of states in this country with our health insurance, and that is what can sustain health. Whatever model you wish to adopt, the most important thing is sustainability. We are taking the bull by the horns’.
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