Lagos state has recorded its first case of Lassa fever since the outbreak of the disease in the country.
The Herald gathered that Lassa fever, a hemorrhagic fever, caused by the Lassa virus, is currently raging in over 19 states in the country.
Professor Akin Abayomi, Lagos state commissioner for health, in a statement sent to journalists on Wednesday, February 19 confirmed that the patient is currently in isolation at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
He called on residents to be calm and not panic, noting that the situation is under control while assuring that the state government, in collaboration with federal authorities, will do everything possible to control the spread of the disease in the state.
He stressed the need for members of the public to ensure and maintain adequate personal hygiene and environmental sanitation at all times as part of prevention and control measures against the spread of the disease in the state.
In a related development, the Delta state government has lauded the Federal Government for its prompt response in containing the spread of Lassa fever in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Mordi Ononye, made the commendation on Friday in Asaba when he received the deployment letter from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that following the reported cases of Lassa fever in the state, the federal government recently sent a Rapid Response Team (RRT) from the NCDC to Delta to support the state in response activities.
The commissioner expressed confidence in the RRT, whose leader, Dr Belu Abaye, had worked in the state before now on a similar capacity.
“The RRT will no doubt enhance the capacity of our personnel in tackling infectious diseases such a lassa fever before the completion of their assignment in the state,” Ononye said.
Responding, the RRT leader (Abaye) thanked the commissioner for the warm reception accorded the team and assured him of their determination to deliver on their assignment.
He disclosed that the goal of the RRT was to reduce the case fatality of Lassa fever to less than 10 per cent by ensuring early detection, prompt diagnosis and optimal case management of the disease.
“The terms of reference of the RRT includes but not limited to the support coordination of multi-sectoral Emergency Operation Centre with key involvement of line ministries and other relevant agencies,” Abaye said.
He said the partnership would help for the development and implementation of the state’s Lassa fever preparedness and response plan.
