• Nigeria notifies WHO, says 35 deaths recorded
• Presidency gives drugs to affected states, declares free treatment
THERE is growing concern over resurgence of Lassa fever outbreak in some parts of the country, as at least eight states are now affected.

Concerned about the development, the Federal Government has now launched an intense investigation into the fresh outbreak. And as required by international protocol, government said it had officially notified the World Health Organisation (WHO) of the outbreak.

Director, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Prof. Abdulsalam Nasidi, told The Guardian yesterday that government had launched an investigation into the outbreak.

“We are investigating the cases. We are also investigating the Rivers State cases”, he said.

Also, he said the Federal Ministry of Health had dispatched medical personnel, drugs and supplies to assist the affected states in containing the situation.

A statement issued yesterday by Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole indicated that eight states had experienced Lassa fever outbreak in the last six weeks in Nigeria.

The affected states listed were Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo and Oyo states. The minister gave the total number of suspected cases so far reported as 76 with 35 deaths.

The statement noted: “The first case of the current outbreak was reported in Bauchi in November 2015. This was followed by cases reported in Kano State, and subsequently the other states mentioned above.

On measures taken so far by the ministry to check the virus, the statement said, among others, were: “In response to these reported outbreaks, my ministry has taken the following measures to curtail further spread and reduce mortality among those affected states:

• Immediate release of adequate quantities of ribavirin, the specific antiviral drug for Lassa fever to all the affected states for prompt and adequate treatment of case;

• Deployment of rapid response teams from the ministry to all the affected states to assist in investigating and verifying the cases and tracing of contacts;

• Clinicians and relevant healthcare workers have been sensitised and mobilised in areas of patient management and care in the affected states. The ministry further said: “In view of the major steps taken so far: All health facilities in the country are hereby directed to emphasise routine; infection prevention and control measures and ensure all patients are treated free; family members and healthcare workers are advised to always be careful to avoid contact with blood and body fluids while caring for sick persons; no travel restrictions will be imposed from and to areas currently affected; healthcare workers seeing a patient suspected to have Lassa fever should immediately contact the state epidemiologist in the state Ministry of Health or call the Federal Ministry of Health using the following numbers: 08093810105, 08163215251, 08031571667 and 08135050005.