Lassa fever: Death toll rises to 40 - Min. of Health

Last Friday, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Federal Government put the death toll of Lassa fever as 40 out of 86 reported cases in 10 states. The number of the suspected cases has now risen from 86 to 93.
The Senate summoned the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, over the outbreak of the disease and he confirmed it in Abuja, at a joint ministerial news conference on the update of the outbreak of the disease.
He said:

“In the last 48 hours, the government raised a four-man expert committee, chaired by Prof. Michael Asuzu, to visit Kano, Niger and Bauchi, the three most endemic states. The committee will embark on a fact-finding mission, assess the current situation, document response experiences, identify gaps and proffer recommendations on how to prevent future occurrences.”

The minister assured the public that the task of the committee was not to blame anyone or agency but to document lessons learnt for better planning.

Adewole advised communities to improve on their hygiene and have better food hygiene. He also implored the public to avoid contact with rodents especially rats, as well as food contaminated with rat’s secretions and excretions.
He also said to avoid drying food in the open and along roadsides, he added that it is also important to cover all foods to prevent rodents contamination.

According to him, the affected states are Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Plateau, Gombe and Oyo.