• Student nurse diagnosed of disease in Ekiti
• Lagos, Anambra, TUC urge action, vigilance
REMINISCENT of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease, Lassa fever has been detected in 13 states, spreading fear across the country.
The affected states include Bauchi, Ekiti, Nassarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Imo and Oyo. Lagos and Abuja.
In Ekiti State, a female student nurse at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FETHI) Ido Ekiti, weekend tested positive of the dreaded Lassa fever.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olurotimi Ojo, who disclosed the first case of the infection in the state yesterday at the stakeholders meeting on Lassa fever, said the patient is currently isolated at the hospital, while efforts were being made by experts to effect that she survives.
The Commissioner said that he had spoken with the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr. Lawrence Ayodele, who confirmed that the patient is a student of the Teaching Hospital.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers Union, Lagos State Council, Mr. Razak Adeofalade said that it would embark on public enlightenment to discourage consumption of soaked gari to prevent the spread of the fever.
According to Adeofalade, house rats that cause Lassa fever are mostly in contact with Nigerians’ most staple food, gari, a cassava product.
In Anambra, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike yesterday urged residents to observe personal hygiene just as it listed preventive measures to avoid an out break in the state.
Akabuike said government has approved a series of massive enlightenment campaign to ensure that the people observe the best of personal hygiene and avert a potentially epidemic situation.
In Lagos State, the House of Assembly yesterday urged residents not to panic, but to remain vigilant and be wary of the epidemic in the state.
Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, Segun Olulade, said resident should avoid rodents in their vicinity and report all fever symptoms to nearby medical centre.
Joining the fray in urging immediate action, the Rivers State chapter of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) through its chairman, Chika Onuegbu implored the state and Federal Government to expedite action in containing the spread in the country.
Onuegbu, who described fever as deadlier than Ebola, said workers are worried over reported cases of several deaths in the rural areas, which have gone unnoticed because of the low level of sensitization of the public on Lassa fever.
