No fewer than 20 patients from Ibaji local government area of Kogi state have been diagnosed of dreaded lassa fever and currently taking treatment at irruah specialist teaching hospital in Edo state.
Source in Ibaji said that the outbreak of lassa fever in the area has caused panic in the local government where there are no functional hospital to take care of the infection .
Reacting to the outbreak, the Special Adviser to Kogi State Governor on health matters, Abu Jibril Okikiri, said the affected persons were only three, but the locals who preferred anonymity, said the number of people affected who are currently receiving treatment at Irruah hospital were far more than the number claimed by the adviser.
“As at today, case of lassa fever record for Ibaji LGA that are currently on care at Irruah specialist teaching hospital are just three , however, it is an outbreak because it is a notifiable disease.
He noted that presently, the state epidemiological unit in collaboration with Kogi State ministry of health has taken a proactive step to prevent escalation of the disease to other neighbouring local government areas of the state.
However, efforts to speak with the information unit of the Irruah Specialist Hospital at the time of this report, proved abortive.
Meanwhile, the state epidemiological unit in collaboration with Kogi State ministry of health has taken a proactive step to prevent escalation.
