The Federal Government has vowed to fight the recurrence of Lassa fever in the country, News About Nigeria reports.
The Minister of State for Environment, Iziaq Salako, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at a news conference on the outbreak of acute viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF), suspected to be Lassa fever, at 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.
He noted that the government, in a bid to avoid the recurrence of Lassa fever, will launch a national de-ratification framework in states that experience consistent annual outbreaks.
Salako, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, stated that the team also had a meeting with the Kaduna State emergency response team.
The briefing was tagged “Health Pillar Towards Mitigation, Prevention, and Control of Lassa Fever in Nigeria.”
He further noted that out of the 12 suspected cases, six have been confirmed, with five deaths as of February 25, according to the state epidemiologist.
“Additionally, two of the suspected cases originated from another facility, the Barau Dikko Hospital, and 92 persons are currently under surveillance as contact persons.
“To combat the outbreak, the ministry implemented the following interventions under the Environmental Health Pillar.
“These include the dispatch of vector wax block rodenticide to Kaduna for massive derivatization of suspected facilities.
“Activation of all environmental health personnel in the state for surveillance to identify rat infestations in communities, districts, and wards and report such cases for treatment/abatement.
“The compliance of all health and education facilities, hotels, restaurants, recreation facilities, markets, motor parks, and other public facilities in the state with the massive derivatization exercise as a matter of regulation.”
Salako added that the Environmental Health Council (EHCON) and other environmental health authorities would issue de-ratification certificates or exemptions to the facilities after the de-ratification.
