Lassa fever outbreak claims 23 lives in Ebonyi
No fewer than 23 persons have died following the outbreak of Lassa fever in Ebonyi State.
Governor Francis Nwifuru, while disclosing this on Thursday during an event organised by the state ministry of health in Abakaliki, the state capital, also said a total of 48 cases out of 394 cases of Laser Fever have been confirmed between January and December 2024.
Nwifuru disclosed that the state plans to establish one specialist hospital in each of the three senatorial zones to boost healthcare delivery in rural areas, noting that his administration has prioritised healthcare through its efforts to strengthen the public health infrastructure, surveillance systems and community engagement to effectively prevent and control outbreaks such as Lassa fever, cholera and other life-threatening diseases.
“In Ebonyi State, we have recorded 394 suspected cases since January till date with 48 confirmed cases out of which 23 persons died of the disease while 25 were treated and discharged home”.
“The spread of this virus is believed to be facilitated by socio-cultural practice, poor health-seeking behaviours, poor environmental sanitation and lack of awareness”.
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“Our administration is committed to ensuring that every Ebonyi citizen enjoys basic, affordable, quality and accessible healthcare through our numerous interventions such as employment of qualified personnel to work in our hospitals, procurement of hospital equipment and consumables”.
“To underscore the importance we attach to the health of our people, substantial provisions were made in our 2025 budget. This is in addition to our resolve to establish a specialist hospital in each of the three senatorial zones of our dear state”
Source: Channels TV
