Lassa fever: Don’t panic, Edo tells residents

The Edo State Government on Tuesday said it had reactivated its response and surveillance team for the prevention of Lassa ‎fever, a few days after four persons reportedly died from the epidemic.

The recent victims, including a medical doctor, were said to have died in Anambra State and their blood samples tested positive at the ‎centre for Lassa fever diagnosis and treatment – located within the Irrua Specialist Hospital, in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

However, the Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Eregia Ahianuwa, who disclosed this the state capital, said there was no need for residents to panic, adding that there had been no reported case of an outbreak in the state.

Ahianuwa said that disease surveillance officers had swung into action by moving into rural communities, where additional awareness was required.

She said, “We have taken the relevant measures already. We never really stopped. But we have reactivated our response team.

“We have disease surveillance officers. They started moving out yesterday to go beyond the cities.‎”

She also said efforts were being made to ensure that residents of the state maintain a hygienic environment.

According to her, such efforts were necessary due to the position of Edo as a transit state.

“Our jingles have been reactivated. So, we want to ‎acquaint people with this information, in case they have forgotten.

“Once that is back to its peak, we are already doing something. So far, there is no reported case in Edo. For that, we are grateful.

“We know that our state is a transit area and a lot of persons pass through. So, once people are aware that they should still take the relevant precaution, in terms of storage of their food water, washing of hands and proper disposal of their waste and avoiding touching the rat, then that means things will continue to be okay for us.”

The commissioner allayed the fears of residents of a possible spread.

Ahianuwa added, “There is no need for panic at all. Like I said, there is no reported case in Edo State. We have a centre in Edo for the management of Lassa fever‎.”

“Even beyond that, the point is prevention; that is what we need. A lot of persons should become more aware. Once people are reminded and they take the relevant precaution, there is no problem. There is no need to panic at all.”