The Lassa fever epidemic continues to rage in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, according to Dr. Hyacinth Ebenyi, Director of Public Health at the ministry. During an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki, he disclosed that out of the 29 confirmed cases of the disease recorded up to February 20, 14 unfortunately resulted in the death of the patients.
The health official expressed concern over the 110 suspected cases recently recorded in the state. He recalled that Lassa fever is endemic in the region and that this increase in cases is not a new phenomenon, particularly during the dry season.
Despite this alarming observation, Dr. Ebenyi appealed to the population not to panic, stressing that the state government is taking measures to stem the spread of the disease. He also warned against eating rats and any contact with their fluids, emphasizing the dangerousness of this practice.
Giving preventive recommendations, he recalled the symptoms of Lassa fever, such as high fever, general weakness and headache. These signs can progress quickly, leading to hemorrhages and compromising vital organs, ultimately leading to the death of the patient. Vigilance and education of the population are therefore essential to counter the spread of this deadly disease.