Eight killed as Lassa fever spreads to Edo

At least eight people have been killed in a fresh outbreak of Lassa fever in Edo state.

Musa Ebomhiana, chief press secretary to Philip Shauibu, Edo deputy governor, gave the casualty figure on Thursday, saying the state has recorded 175 cases in the current outbreak

The development is coming a day after three people lost their lives to the disease in Kano where 292 people were placed on watch list.

Ebomhiana said the affected areas in Edo are Esan west, Esan central, Esan north-east, Esan south-east, Igueben, and Etsako west.

“A total of 175 cases of Lassa Fever had been recorded in the state with eight persons dead since the current outbreak of the epidemic,” NAN quoted the deputy governor’s aide as saying in the statement.

“This is the highest the state has recorded in the history since the first outbreak in the state.

“An ambulance has been dedicated strictly for the use of Lassa Fever cases in the state to help facilitate the curbing of the disease.

“The affected local government are, Esan West, Esan Central, Esan North East, Esan South East, Igueben, and Etsako West.”

The state government urged all health officials to be proactive in handling such cases in the state.