By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Ebonyi State Ministry of Health has revealed that the state recorded 53 cases in 2023 while 36 people lost their lives as a result of Lassa fever outbreak across the state.

This is according to the Disease Surveillance Notification Officer, state Ministry of Health, Mr. Orogwu Sampson, through a statement issued by the Public Relations officer, Miss Lucy Anyim on Saturday in Abakiliki.

The statement added that from January 4 to February 16, 2024, about 25 people have been infected including two healthcare workers with 10 deaths.

According to him, he said that the disease cuts across all ages. Nothing that out of the 25 confirmed cases,16 people were males while 9 people were females. Adding that those who died comprised; a pregnant woman, two children, men and women.

Orogwu explained that the Local Government Areas affected include; Onicha, Ikwo, Ezza North, Ebonyi, Izzi, Ohaukwu, Abakaliki with Hausa quarters and Nkaliki residential areas recording the highest number of cases.

“the other LGAs that have not recorded a case so far may be because they have not reported not that it doesn’t exist there”.

He said that the treatment is free and urged people to go for early detection, early presentation and treatment to avoid further loss of lives.

On his part, the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Ogbonna Nwambeke enumerated the efforts of the State Government together with the partners such as WHO, Breakthrough Action Nigeria, UNICEF among others to reduce the ugly menace and called for provision of logistics to increase surveillance and community engagement against risk factors.

Nwambeke advised people to stop bush burning, avoid eating rats and not to touch the surface an infected person has touched as well as maintain high level of personal and environmental hygiene like covering their food and utensils properly.

He appreciated the State Government for giving them large volume of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to give to health workers at National Obstetrics Fistula Centre in Abakiliki to ensure that their own health workers are alive to save others.

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