Lassa Fever: Enugu Govt confirms death of pregnant woman

The Enugu State Government, Friday, confirmed that a pregnant woman has died of Lassa Fever in the State.

DAILY POST earlier reported that a patient died of the disease at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla. 

On the whole, 6 suspected cases were reported out of which 3 were confirmed.
The third victim, a 24 year old female youth corper, who just returned from Benue State survived the attack and is responding to treatment.

These were disclosed at a press conference jointly addressed by the Enugu state ministries for Information, Health, Education, Water Resources and Agriculture on Friday at the state Secretariat.

The pregnant woman, who died from the Lassa fever attack, was as a result of reporting late to health facilities.

The commissioner for information, Chidi Aroh who presided at the conference assured that the Enugu state government was being conscious of the scourge and was taking necessary steps to protect the people against it.

He said the state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had exhibited his leadership qualities in this direction and as a result, the management of the crisis was on course.

“Jingles are being run in radio and television stations for enlightenment while leaflets on how to prevent the fever have been printed and being distributed across the state.

“Government has purchased all required materials and equipment to fight the scourge as well as providing emergency facilities in the event of any noticed occurrence in any part of the state,” Aroh hinted.

He disclosed that apart from the 11 government hospitals mapped out for emergency, nine private hospitals have been added as emergency facilities, bringing the total to 20 hospitals across the state.

In addition to these, Aroh disclosed that the state government had directed the fumigation of all refuse dumps in the state with a view to ridding them of rodents.

The permanent secretary in the ministry of health, Dr Ifeanyi Agujiobi assured that the scourge has been under control since the first reported case on January 2.

He confirmed that the ministry had received full consignment of materials and equipment, adding that the health workers at various designated hospitals were being adequately protected.

Agujiobi assured that efforts were being made to permanently uproot the source of the spread of the scourge, particularly rodent rats.

“The state government is on top of the situation and by the special grace of God, it will be a thing of the past,” he said.

The commissioner for education, Prof Uchenna Eze said he received directive from Governor Ugwuanyi to reach out to every school in the state – primary, post primary and tertiary and educate them on how to protect themselves against the disease.