Lassa fever has killed two medical doctors and 17 others in Kano and Ondo states. The Ondo State Government said the deadly Lassa fever killed 16 people so far; while 84 cases recorded in the state this year.
Similarly, the Director of Public Health and Disease Control in the Kano State Ministry of Health, Dr Imam Bello, said on Tuesday; that the disease had killed two medical doctors and a pregnant patient at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.
It was reported on Monday that 15 persons had lost their lives; as a result of the disease in Ondo, but the death toll rose to 16 on Tuesday.
The Ondo State Epidemiologist, Dr Steven Fagbemi, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing Governor Rotimi Akeredolu; and the local government chairmen from the Ondo North and the Central Senatorial Districts; at the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state capital.
READ ALSO: Residents, health workers in Ondo panic as Lassa fever claims 50 lives
Fagbemi said, “Sixteen of the patients have passed on as their cases had reached advanced stages; before they were brought to the hospital. Forty-seven patients currently on admission are responding to treatment; while 21 persons have already been treated and discharged.”
Akeredolu urged the residents to stay calm as the government had adopted some measures to tackle its spread to other areas.
Akeredolu, who said poor hygiene was responsible for the spread of the disease; stressed that the government had stepped up efforts to sensitize the populace about the disease; through massive community awareness creation.
“The government has continued to provide free treatment to all patients that present with this disease in our treatment centres. We will like the public to note that this disease is totally treatable; indeed so far several patients have been treated and have fully recovered.”
READ ALSO: Lassa Fever: Gombe records 5 confirmed cases, one death in 7 months – Official
In Kano, some patients were already placed under the Intensive Care Unit of the teaching hospital.
1st News learnt that a House Officer in the hospital, Ummu Kulthum, died on Friday; while an anesthetist consultant, Habeeb Musa, died on Monday.
The third victim, a pregnant woman, died due to suspected complications from Lassa fever.
In a statement, the Kano State branch of the Nigeria Medical Association; said samples had been taken to the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control in Lagos for analysis.
The result of the analysis is still being expected.
