Lassa Fever claims 14 lives in Ebonyi State

The Ebonyi State Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday that Lassa fever had claimed 14 lives in the state.

Hyacinth Ebenyi, the director of Public Health at the ministry, gave the figure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki.

He said that the 14 cases were among the 29 confirmed cases of the disease recorded as of 20 February.

Mr Ebenyi expressed concern that no fewer than 110 suspected cases of the disease were recently recorded in the state.

The state had recently recorded more than 110 suspected cases of the disease.

Yes, there has been an increase in the cases of Lassa fever. The disease is really endemic in the state.

“It did not just start, it has been here, most times, during the dry season.

“So far, we have had suspected cases of 110, and out of this figure, we recorded 29 confirmed cases.

“Out of 29 cases, as of Tuesday, we lost 14 persons,” the director said.

Mr Ebenyi advised the state residents to be cautious about eating rats and making contact with their fluids as he reaffirmed the commitment of the state government in tackling the disease.

“Lassa fever is a killer-disease. People should stop eating rat. Do not allow it to have any contact with your food.”

“These signs progress within a short time, and if nothing is done, the affected person will start to bleed from the body openings until it affects the important organs of the body, and next will be death.

“Affected persons should go to hospital for treatment immediately,” he said.