3 dead, 7 quarantined as Lassa fever spreads in Imo

- Three persons have been confirmed killed from Lassa fever outbreak in Imo

- Confirming the death, Governor Okorocha expressed concerned over the speed of spread of the disease

- According to him, the Ministry of Health has been properly informed and directed to do everything possible to manage the situation

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo said on Wednesday, January 24, said that three persons had died of Lassa fever while seven others were hospitalised.

Okorocha told journalists in Owerri that the disease was discovered in one of the hospitals in Orlu local government area of the state.

NAN reports that he expressed deep worry over the disease and cautioned citizens against unhygienic habits and body contact.

“This morning, we woke up to hear from relevant agencies that Lassa fever has killed three people while seven others are hospitalised.

“This number is too large for a state and we are very concerned over the speed of spread of the disease in Orlu and other parts of the state.

“You are aware that the major cause of this disease is a particular kind of rat and we must take adequate measures to stop rats from having direct contact with consumable goods.

“The state Ministry of Health has been properly informed and directed to do everything possible to manage the situation," he said.

The governor said if the spread of the disease continued, the government may ban public functions and rallies to save lives.

He said the identified hospitals had been isolated while the patients had been quarantined for a specific time in order to manage the situation.

Okorocha said he had sorted for the support of federal government on the issue through the Ministry of Finance and assured that the matter would be over soon.

NAIJ.com had earlier reported that the Imo state commissioner of health, Dr Angela Uwakwem, while speaking in Owerri on Tuesday, January 23, confirmed the recent outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

Two people have been recorded dead and seven quarantined in the state.

Uwakwem confirmed that the two people died after they were referred out of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri

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