Two Cases of Lassa Fever Discovered in Kogi

Yekini Jimoh

Two cases of Lassa fever have been discovered in Kogi State.

One of the victims, a 70-year-old man from Okene in Okene Local Government Council of the state was referred to the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja from a private clinic.

He was later diagnosed at Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State to have contacted Lassa fever. The victim was said to have died before the result of the test came out.

Another victim from Idah Local Government Council is still receiving treatment at the Irrua Specialist Hospital.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kogi State chapter, Dr. Austin Ojotule, said in a bid to prevent the outbreak of the disease, the association had embarked on a sensitisation programme at the rural areas.

He advised the people against exposing their food to rodents in order to prevent them from contacting the disease.

Also, in an interview with journalists, the acting Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Health, Mr. Bello Henry, said government had also embarked on sensitisation programme, providing personal protective equipment for the health workers who might have had contact with the victims.

Also speaking, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Kennedy Obohwemu, called for urgent need to put in place as well as adequate facilities at Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja that could possibly handle victims in the state in case of any outbreak.

He also warned on the consequences of the heap of refuge in Lokoja metropolis, saying such refuge is a potential breeding ground for Lassa fever outbreak.

“The state of refuge disposal in the state, especially as these unhealthy sites serve as breeding grounds for the vectors (rats). Container should be strategically located to ease refuge and other waste disposal,” he said.

Obohwemu also

urged government at all levels, NGOs and health professionals to step up advocacy on Lassa fever to all stakeholders including market men and women, traders, food vendors and hawkers to have sufficient knowledge on how to prevent rats from gaining access to food stores and warehouses.

He decried the poor facilities in Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja as Lassa fever epidemic is ravaging the neighboring states.

Lassa fever has being a problem in the country for the past few months. For now, not less than 17 states have been affected including Bauchi, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Nasarawa, Lagos, Delta, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Zamfara and now Kogi.