Edo records 136 cases of Lassa fever

Edo State has recorded 136 cases of Lassa fever since the current outbreak of the virus in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Obehi Akoria, disclosed this Wednesday in Benin while briefing newsmen shortly after the state cabinet meeting.

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“As of today (Wednesday), we have 136 cases of Lassa fever from Etsako West and Esan West local governments of the state and they account for over 60 per cent of the cases recorded,” Akoria said.

The commissioner, who did not disclose the number of casualties since the outbreak, gave the case fatality rate as 13 per cent.

She said the state has reconstituted the committee on Lassa fever to tackle the outbreak.

The state’s Ministry of Health has been working with partners using the world health approach alongside the ministries of environment, agriculture and waste disposal board to achieve control of the vector that carries the disease, she added.