A few days ago, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Yemi Olowolabi confirmed a list of the local government areas affected by Lassa Fever as Owo, Akoko South/West, Akure North and Akure South.
He, however, said the government had strengthened its medical apparatuses in all its specialist hospitals to contain the spread of the disease with the isolation centre at the Federal Medical centre in Owo being reinforced to take adequate care of patients as part of efforts to check the spread of the disease and that government was embarking on sensitization of the public on unhygienic habits that could aid the spread of Lassa fever in the state.
Fast forward to some days later, Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu made the a series of revelations in a state broadcast on Lassa fever outbreak in the state on Satuday night.
Excerpts from the broadcast;
…A total of 102 suspected cases of Lassa Fever have been reported in 8 Local Government Areas of Ondo state. Out of the figure, 36 of the 79 cases with laboratory results have been confirmed, including 9 deaths.
At present, 127 Hospital Contacts and 308 Community Contacts were line-listed in all the affected Local Government Areas while 30 have completed their follow-up.
…that patients are being managed at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, while confirmatory tests are done at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State.
Publicity is also ongoing through radio jingles, radio and television discussions in our media houses.
Information, education and communication materials such as handbills, flyers and posters have been produced and these are being distributed.
Some Personal Protective Equipment, PPE, Drugs, and hospital beds were donated to FMC, Owo to support the management of the patients.”
Some Nursing Staff were also released to the Treatment Centre to support the management of the patients.”