The Ogun State Government as well as health authorities in the state have assured residents that all necessary precautions have been taken towards curtailing and preventing the spread of Lassa fever.
This according to the government follows its entry into the state, by a 20-year-old commuter from Lagos State.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Babatunde Ipaye gave the assurance after the State Executive Council meeting saying that apart from the medical facilities put in place, government is also interacting with community stakeholders towards nipping the disease in the bud across the State.
“Part of the plan was to involve Medical Officers to begin Community Level Mass Mobilization through various Local Government Information Officers who will take up the challenge of educating members of the Public, particularly on personal and environmental hygiene as well as the need to keep food supplies safe.”
According to Ipaye, the surveillance system has also been beefed up across the state while health officers from the 20 Local Government and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) have been directed to alert the Ministry on any case of fever that has been treated for several days without changes.
Furthermore the health minister noted that currently, the case of the 20-year-old was the only case in the state as his primary contacts numbering up to 106 have been identified, quarantined and placed under surveillance for at least 21 days which is the longest incubation period of Lassa.
Meanwhile, health officers have been advised to adhere strictly to the universal precaution so as not to be infected.
