Three reported cases of Lassa Fever has been confirmed in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State by the state government.
The Special Adviser to Kogi State Governor on health matters, Abu Jibril Okikiri confirmed the outbreak.
Okikiri said the affected persons are already receiving treatment at Irua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State.
This is contrary to reports by sources in the local government that no fewer than 20 patients were affected and moved to Irua by the government.
However, Okikiri noted that the State epidemiological unit, in collaboration with the Kogi State Ministry of Health, has taken a proactive step to prevent escalation of the disease in the Local Government.
“As at today, cases of Lassa fever recorded in Ibaji LGA that are currently on care at Iruah Specialist Teaching Hospital are just three. However, it is an outbreak because it is a notifiable disease,” he said.
However, the Local Government with no functional hospital to care for the patients, have been thrown into panic since reports of the outbreak.
Recall that Kogi State Government had boasted of establishing a bio-safety laboratory for the investigation of suspected Lassa Fever cases.
