Lassa Fever: Benue Records Zero Deaths in One Week

By  Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue state government has announced that there are no mortalities from Lassa Fever in the last one week.

This is even as the cumulative number of suspected cases is now 382 from 251.

The State Commissioner for Health Dr Paul Ogwuche who disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Makurdi on Tuesday, said so far the laboratory confirmed cases is 47 in the last one week with only 6 positive cases.

He also, said that overall mortality amongst health workers still stands at 14 since the outbreak of the disease, maintaining that those in isolation are just 20 with 14 at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH and 6 at the Federal Medical center, Makurdi.

Dr. Ogwuche attributed the recent development to massive sensitization and education as well as support of partners like MSF, WHO and Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC.

Said he, “the rates have dropped drastically because we are out combing for suspected cases. Those that are positive are few compared to before. We have enggaed in regular meetings with WHO and NCDC as well as EOC.

” Surveillance is ongoing in all the 23 LGAs. We do regular update. We carry out training of health workers on basic prevention and infection in isolation centers that accounts for why they are not infected. There are 14 cases in BSUTH and 6 at FMC, Makurdi in isolation.

“The pillars we put in place, sensitization and health education has accounted for this development. People now know what to do and what they should not do.

“The message has gone round the 23 LGAs. We are also tracking our cases very early now because the surveillance officers are now in the field. Any reported positive case we ensure that all the lines contacts are monitored, once there is symptom, we test and take them to the isolation center.

“So the earlier you present, the better the outcome. The low mortality shows that people are been tracked in their communities and brought down for early treatment.

“There is also alot of intervention from our partners. Many of them are on ground NCDC, MSF and WHO are all working together to see how we can curtail it. The Pillars of the response, infection Prevention, control are in place and all our laboratories are functional and can detect early infection and start instituting treatment. So alot has veen done by the Ministry and its partners.

“The State government has supported the response with huge sums of money and that enabled us to a large extent work. Everybody is on their toes doing the needful. We have not recorded any outbreak in the IDP camps. We are at the verge of distributing IAC materials (flyers) to the 15 IDP camps in the state”.