By David Uka, Abakaliki
One person has been confirmed dead and 23 cases affected as lassa fever virus hit Ebonyi state
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezurike who revealed this in
Abakaliki, the state capital while briefing journalistssaid the disease is currently active in six out of the 13 local government areas in the state.
The six local governments are; Abakaliki, Izzi, Ebonyi, Ohaukwu,Ohaozara, and Ikwo local governments
He said only one death has been recorded since the outbreak off the disease in the state.
He noted that the Ministry has activated an emergency operations centre to coordinate the state response in collaboration with the
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control(NCDC, partners and relevant sakeholders in the health sector.
He described Lassa fever as a viral hemorrhage illness, transmitted to
humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by
infected rodents.
According to him, symptoms of the virus include high grade fever, body
pains, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, chest pain, unconsciousness and bleeding disorders.
The commissioner announced that Governor David Umahi has set up
inter-ministerial Committee headed by Secretary to the State
Government, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala to institute all measures for emergency
preparedness, responses and surveillance against Corona virus and also
strengthen infectious disease containment.
Umezurike explained that the measure was to ensure that no corona virus case was recoreded in the state as there were heavy presence of Chinese in the state who are handling projects of the state government
in various sites.
