Dr. Kunden Deyin, Commissioner of Health in Plateau said
there was no fresh outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.
there was no fresh outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.
Deyin made the clarification in an interview with the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Jos.
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Jos.
He said that the last case of Lassa fever in the State was
in August 2016 when a nomadic woman and a student from the University of Jos,
were tested for the disease.
in August 2016 when a nomadic woman and a student from the University of Jos,
were tested for the disease.
According to him, the two patients were treated and
discharged from the University of Jos Teaching Hospital (JUTH), and they are
doing well.
discharged from the University of Jos Teaching Hospital (JUTH), and they are
doing well.
He disclosed that aside the two confirmed cases, there were
10 persons with suspected cases of Lassa fever, but when the test results came
back from EDO, it showed that they were negative.
10 persons with suspected cases of Lassa fever, but when the test results came
back from EDO, it showed that they were negative.
The Commissioner added that the government and the ministry
were on top of the situation
were on top of the situation
“We have not relented on our oars because we do not have a
case of Lassa fever in Plateau.
case of Lassa fever in Plateau.
“The ministry of health has since commenced aggressive
sensitization and awareness campaigns in Jos-Bukuru metropolis and in the 17
LGAs of the state to enlighten the people on how to prevent the disease.
sensitization and awareness campaigns in Jos-Bukuru metropolis and in the 17
LGAs of the state to enlighten the people on how to prevent the disease.
“The ministry, through its sensitization campaign has
educated the populace on the importance of keeping a clean environment,” he
said.
educated the populace on the importance of keeping a clean environment,” he
said.
Deyin said there was the need to ensure that all foods were
stored in a rodent proof containers and to desist from drying food stuff on the
road side since the rat can urinate and defecate in them.
stored in a rodent proof containers and to desist from drying food stuff on the
road side since the rat can urinate and defecate in them.
“We embarked on this social mobilization because we believe
that prevention is better than cure,” he said.
that prevention is better than cure,” he said.
Deyin said that the ministry had liaised with traditional
and religious leaders on the need to sensitise their subjects and congregations
on the importance of promoting good community and personal hygiene.
and religious leaders on the need to sensitise their subjects and congregations
on the importance of promoting good community and personal hygiene.
He, therefore, appealed to the people to ensure that rodents
were not allowed into houses since a dirty environment attracts the rodent
which causes the disease.
were not allowed into houses since a dirty environment attracts the rodent
which causes the disease.
