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Lassa Fever: Ondo State Begin Sensitisation Programme

The Ondo State government has commenced a sensitisation programme on Lassa Fever for health workers in the state. The state’s Ministry of Health started the … Continue reading Lassa Fever: Ondo State Begin Sensitisation Programme


Death Toll Rises To 75, As NCDC Confirms 355 Cases Of Lassa Fever
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lassa fever, ondo stateThe Ondo State government has commenced a sensitisation programme on Lassa Fever for health workers in the state.

The state’s Ministry of Health started the awareness programme on Friday, as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the viral disease in the state.

In a chat with reporters, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, disclosed that the essence of the programme was to be battle ready for any single case of Lassa Fever in the state.

He indicated that the sensitisation would start ‎with health workers, as most of the recent cases of the fever had health workers involved.

The Commissioner equally informed reporters that all necessary drugs and consumables had been dispatched to all the local government areas of the state.


However, during the programme, which was held in Akure, the capital of the State, the Resource Person, Dr. Akinola Fatiregun, from the World Health Organisation, said that the disease was first reported in Nigeria in 1969.

He stated that it was widespread in Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

According to him, the mode of transmission is from rat to human and also from human to human.

The Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Dr. Taiwo Oni, also stated that with the knowledge that the disease had reoccurred in Anambra and Delta States, the emergency preparedness unit swung into action in order to curtail any occurrence in the State.

Lassa Fever may not be an easily identifiable disease, but the deadly nature of the virus is making the Ondo State government to alert health workers on the need to be battle ready should there be any outbreak in the state.

On Monday, August 22, the Delta State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Azinge, confirmed a fresh case of Lassa fever and the death of a medical doctor who owned a hospital in Asaba, the capital of Delta State.