Lassa Fever: Ogun Denies Outbreak

lassa-fever

The Ogun State government has denied claims of any outbreak of the Lassa fever virus in the state.

According to the Commissioner for Health, Mr Babatunde Ipaye, who made the clarification on Tuesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while addressing reporters on the development, the state is safe.

He noted that epidemic preparedness centres to respond to any crisis had also been put in place in the state’s capital as well as the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu.

Although two children from Abeokuta and Sagamu were suspected to have the virus, Ipaye said they were diagnosed with the clinical result coming out as negative.

He, therefore, appealed to the residents to remain calm while asking them to maintain proper hygiene.

Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria has reached 17 states and has led to close to 100 deaths. It is caused by the Lassa virus which is transmitted by the multi-breasted rat found in most West African countries.