Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole, yesterday, gave update on the outbreak of Lassa Fever in the state and said 137 confirmed cases have been confirmed with 24 deaths.

Besides, he said Yellow Fever has two confirmed cases with one death, Monkeypox (Npox) has eight confirmed cases with no deaths, and Diphtheria has eight confirmed cases with three deaths.

Dr. Oshiomhole also disclosed that 86 cases of Dengue Fever have been reported across several local government areas of the state.

The Commissioner who announced this at a press briefing in Benin City, assured that the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo remains fully committed to protecting the health of residents and will continue to work until all outbreaks are brought under control.

He disclosed that the Director Public Health in the Ministry, Dr. Stephenson Ojiefoh, has been appointed as the incident manager to lead the response.

?The Emergency Operation Center has also been activated, and the Ministry is rolling out a statewide response plan. This includes surveillance, case management, vector control, and environmental sanitation across all affected areas?, the Commissioner added and urged all healthcare workers across the state to be on high alert and to report any suspected case promptly.

He explained that Dengue Fever is caused by a virus transmitted through the bite of Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti, saying that the disease spreads quickly, especially in areas with poor sanitation and stagnant water, which provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

To prevent the spread, ?residents are advised to keep their surroundings clean, cover water containers, use mosquito nets, apply insect repellents, and destroy mosquito breeding sites?, Dr. Oshiomhole said.

Present at the briefing were representatives of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the State Disease Surveillance Team, Ministry of Health Directors, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), and other key stakeholders. (Daily Sun)

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