1,000 Nigerians at Risk as Lassa Fever Outbreak Spreads to 17 States

The federal government has warned that the present Lassa fever outbreak ravaging some parts of the nation might end up claiming the lives of over 1,000 Nigerians, adding that over 17 states in the country have been affected, with Edo, Rivers, Nasarawa and Taraba States as the virus hotspots, while a high incidence of the disease outbreak has also been recorded in Bauchi, Kano and Niger States,

This was stated by the Minister of health, Prof. Adewole at the National Council on Health (NCH) emergency meeting with Commissioners for Health from all the states of the federation and other stakeholders in the health sector in Abuja, where he further stated that the present epidemic of the virus is a thing of national embarrassment, and ignorance of the virus is increasing its spread.

While stating that the meeting’s main objective was aimed at aiding discussions on the control of the Lassa fever outbreak, the minister appealed to all health practitioners in all states not to withhold anything from their political leaders.

The minister disclosed that the Lassa fever virus had spread to 64 local governments in 17 states, with 212 suspected cases recorded, and strongly warned that the consequences of not doing enough to contain the spread of the virus might result in a wider spread of Lassa fever around the country.

Adewole indulge the public to desist from the traditional method of drying grains and other food items on road pavement, adding that food items might be contaminated by rats.