The Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, has confirmed 36 cases of lassa fever out of 79 laboratory tests in all the hospitals across the state out of which nine deaths had been recorded.
Akeredolu said at present 127 Hospital Contacts and 308 Community Contacts were line-listed in all the affected Local Government Areas while thirty have completed their follow-ups.
The Governor who made the revelation in a state broadcast on lassa fever outbreak in the state, revealed that patients are being managed at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, while confirmatory tests are done at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State.
To curtail the spread of the disease, Akeredolu said an Emergency Preparedness and Response Team has been reactivated at both the State and Local Government levels in addition to Active Surveillance and contact tracing in the affected Local Government Areas.
He added that sensitization and community mobilization are going on in all Local Government Areas for traditional rulers, religious leaders, political leaders, market women and other stakeholders.
“Publicity is also ongoing through radio jingles, radio and television discussions in our media houseses”, the Governor further disclose.
Other measures being undertaken he said, include “Information, Education and Communication materials such as handbills, flyers and posters have been produced and these are being distributed” .
He further said vehicles have been dedicated for transportation of samples and referred patients to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospitals, Irrua, Edo State just the Infectious Disease Isolation Unit at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo has been expanded through the support of his administration.
“Some Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, Drugs, and hospital beds were donated to FMC, Owo to support the management of the patients”.
“Some Nursing Staff had also been released to the Treatment Centres to support the management of the patients”.
According to him, a total number of 102 suspected cases of Lassa had been reported in eight local government areas of Ondo State.
