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The Kogi State Government on Wednesday said it recorded 10 suspected cases of Lassa fever between January and May 2019. The Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Haruna disclosed this at a media briefing on flood, Lassa fever and other epidemic-prone diseases in Lokoja.
            Giving a breakdown of the outbreak, Dr Haruna disclosed that, out of the cases, four were tested positive. He noted that three were recorded in Ibaji Local Government area while the remaining one was in Ijumu LGA. The commissioner who spoke through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters, Dr Ahmed Attah confirmed the death of two persons. While explaining that efforts were already in place to curb the epidemic in the current rainy season, Dr Haruna maintained that the state government in collaboration with the Centre for Disease Control have doubled their efforts towards curtailing the epidemic in Kogi State. One of the patients from Ijumu LGA tested positive and died on her way to Lassa fever specialists Hospital Owo, Ondo State. When she died, it was diagnosed that she had Lassa fever, he said. Adding his voice, the State Epidemiologist, Dr Austin Ojotule recalled that in 2018, Kogi State recorded high cases of Lassa fever.
            According to him, the State ministry of health observed 40 suspected cases, diagnosed 12 and managed three successfully. Dr Ojotule explained that “We have received huge support from the Centre for Disease Control alongside the World Health Organization in fighting the scourge of Lassa fever. The ministry has continued to sensitize the general public using the various media organization on how to prevent this outbreak across the 21 LGA’s of Kogi State. The Director of Public Health, Dr Francis Akpa on his part warned residents in Kogi State to beware of Lassa fever epidemic, stressing that, dirty environment, unhealthy lifestyle were major causes of the outbreak.