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| A Section of the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, Nasarawa State. Image credit: Universal reporters.com |
The Nigeria Centre for
Disease Control, NCDC, has confirmed nine deaths and 20 cases of Lassa Fever in
seven states since the beginning of the dry season in December 2016; even as it
commences implementation of its plan to strengthen nationwide response capacity
to anticipated Lassa Fever cases.
Vanguard
report continues:
However,
in an interview with Vanguard, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Health, Dr.
Daniel Iya, confirmed four deaths and 16 cases in the state, while 38 people
are now under surveillance.
In
a statement, the Technical Assistant, Communication, of the NCDC, Dr Lawal
Bakare, alerted Nigerians on the increasing cases of Lassa Fever and the need
for increased focus on prevention and preparedness.
Bakare
noted that Plateau State recorded three deaths out of six confirmed cases,
while Ogun State recorded two deaths and two confirmed cases.
He
added: “In Taraba State, there was one death out of the six confirmed cases, while
Nasarawa recorded three deaths. Other states that have recorded one case each,
without confirmed deaths, include Edo, Ondo and Rivers.”
Meanwhile,
NCDC in the last quarter of 2016 commenced implementation of its Lassa Fever
plan ahead of the current dry season with a view to strengthening nationwide
capacity to prevent, detect and respond to the anticipated cases.
The
deaths in Nasarawa, last week, occurred in Keffi and Lafia Local Government Areas, barely one year after two persons died at the State Specialist Hospital
in Lafia, including the medical doctor that was treating the patients.
Two
persons reportedly died at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia, while
the other patient, who was earlier referred to Federal Medical Centre in Keffi,
also died in the course of treatment.
The
Chief Medical Director of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Dr. Ahmed Ashuku,
also confirmed two new cases in an interview monitored on the state-owned radio
station in Lafia.
He
said the management of the hospital had engaged medical personnel on a one-day
awareness campaign on the need to prevent further transmission of the disease.
Bakare, in the statement, further explained that NCDC is working with affected states to ensure an appropriate response to these cases.
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