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Lassa Fever Kills Two People In Ondo State

January 12, 2016

SaharaReporters has learned that the Lassa fever epidemic has reached Ondo State, and has already claimed the lives of two people.

SaharaReporters has learned that the Lassa fever epidemic has reached Ondo State, and has already claimed the lives of two people.

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The Lassa fever is borne from the droppings and urine of infected rats known as the natal multimammate mouse. A common way of contracting the disease is by inhalation of infected materials or through an encounter with one of the rodents. The disease can also spread via contact with an infected person.

The fever has symptoms very similar to the Ebola virus including vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and loss of sight.

Dayo Adeyanju, the Health Commissioner in Ondo State, confirmed the two deaths in Akure, the State capital.  Mr. Adeyanju said the State government was already taking measures to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.

Mr. Adeyanju disclosed this information at the "Lassa Prevention Stakeholders Meeting" in Akure.  The Health Commissioner stated that the duo were among 31 people placed under close monitoring because they had contact with an infected person.

The health commissioner informed the assembled religious and traditional rulers that one of the dead persons came into the State from Edo State. He went on to note that Ondo State was activating its surveillance mechanism to ensure the disease does not spread.

Mr. ‎Adeyanju added that outbreak control teams at the local government level have been re-activated, ‎while emergency lines have been released to the public, as well as intensified warnings in the electronic media.

Kayode Akinmade, the State's Commissioner for Information, said outbreak control teams have been organized in all of the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the State.

He noted that residents in Ose LGA of Ondo State, which shares a boundary with Edo State, had also been sensitized regarding the disease control.

The Federal Government has announced it has set aside N140 million to combat the spread of the fever. Thus far, the disease has claimed the lives of 40 other Nigerians.

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PUBLIC HEALTH