Five die in Ondo as govt confirms 24 cases of Lassa Fever

The Ondo State government on Monday confirmed 24  cases of Lassa Fever in the state saying five people have lost their lives to the deadly disease in four local government areas of the state.

The Commissioner for Information and orientation, Mr Yemi Olowolabi who confirmed this said the affected local government areas included Owo, Akoko Southwest, Akure North and Akure south local government areas in the state.

He, however, said the state government had put in place adequate measure to guide against the spread of disease while it has also strengthened its medical apparatuses in all the specialist hospitals in the area to contain the spread of the disease.

The Commissioner said as part of efforts to checkmate the spread of the deadly disease, the isolation Centre at the Federal Medical Centre in Owo had also been reinforced to take adequate care of patients.

He disclosed that the state would embark on sensitisation and awareness programme to keep the public abreast of the development and on unhygienic habits that could aid the spread of Lassa Fever in the state.

It was gathered that some of the infected persons were hospitalised at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Owo, while others with critical conditions were referred to Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo state for treatment.

Confirming the outbreak of the epidemic, a medical doctor with FMC Owo, who spoke on condition of anonymity told our correspondent, that a  family of four were brought to FMC from Oka-Akoko area while some patients were also rushed to the centre from Owo and Ose local government areas.

The Medical expert expressed displeasure that the Ondo state government was not showing enough commitment to contain Lassa Fever in the areas, noting that health workers at FMC were now working under the fear of contracting the epidemic.

When contacted on telephone, the Chief Medical Director of FMC,  Dr Liasu Ahmed who confirmed the outbreak, however, declined to give further details insisting that it was the prerogative of the  Ondo state government to release details on the Lassa Fever outbreak.