Sixteen people have been confirmed killed from the outbreak of Lassa Fever in Ondo State southwest Nigeria.
The State Chief Epidemiologist, Dr Steven Fagbemi, disclosed this on Tuesday at the governor’s office in the Government House in Akure, the state capital.
The health authorities made this known while briefing Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and local government chairmen and officials from Ondo North and Central senatorial districts of the state.
84 cases have of the deadly rodent spreading fever has been reported in the state since January 1, this year.
Authorities say 16 of the patients have passed on as their cases had reached the advanced stage before they were taken to the hospital, while 47 patients on admission were responding to treatment, 21 others have already been treated and discharged.
Areas affected by the outbreak include Owo, Akoko South-West, Akure South, and Ondo West Local Government Areas of the state.
Also confirming the outbreak, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Wahab Adegbenro, revealed that the disease has been occurring in the state for some years, especially during the dry season.
He, therefore, advised Nigerians to visit hospitals when they noticed symptoms of fever.
Earlier, Governor Akeredolu advised the local government chairmen in the state to deploy cleaners to markets and public places to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
He also called on residents to maintain a high level of hygiene to curtail further spread of the Lassa virus in the state.
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