Health Workers Fall Victim of Lassa Fever - Commissioner

Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Benue State, Dr. Paul Ejeh Ogwuche has disclosed that the infectious Lassa Fever outback has not spared anyone including the health workers in Benue State! 

He disclosed to journalists at the media briefing in Makurdi that members of the public must avoid practices that expose them to the epidemic.

 He said "a major concern in this outbreak is the high number of infections among healthcare workers." In this regard, three hundred and fifteen (315) suspected cases were recorded.

According to him, since the infectious disease targeted no one specifically, caution must be exercised by the public to free from the deadly disease.

He said "so far, the state has recorded 14 infections among health personnel, including: six medical doctors, one pharmacist, four nurses, two community health extension workers, one hospital porter!"

The Commissioner continued "unfortunately, we lost two of the healthcare workers. This highlights the occupational risk faced by our frontline workers and reinforces the need for strict adherence to the infection prevention and control measures in all health facilities." 

Lamenting the spread, Dr. Ogwuvhe stated that the outbreak has been confirmed across Guma, Makurdi, Okpokwu and Buruku Local Government Areas of the state.

But the Commissioner advised against panic when he stated that the State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) expanded her field response team through intensive "active case search, contact tracing, risk communication, community engagement and public sensitization" to break the chain of transmission and prevent further spread within communities of the state.

Other measures aimed at ensuring more effective response according to Dr. Ogwuche included

collaboration with technical and development partners for guidance, medical supplies and reinforcement of public health infrastructure.

 He said , the collaboration came timely to strengthen response capacity and bring down the "epidemic curve." 

While the government has intensified the response, Dr. Ogwuche called on the public to "avoid contact with rats and rodents" particularly the specie identified as the "multimammate rat" known for transmitting Lassa Fever.

The public has been advised to embrace environmental friendly practices by keeping homes and the surroundings clean to discourage rodents in the vicinities.

Similarly food items be stored in tightly covered containers as well as avoid drying food on surface area to avoid the contamination by rodents. In the same direction, refuse be properly disposed and waste be kept out of the residential areas.

Based on this development, members of the public have been encouraged to seek medical attention immediately symptoms like weakness of the body, headache, vomiting, sore throat and bleeding start manifesting!