By Edokpayi Adesuwa
The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole, has officially declared an outbreak of Lassa Fever in Edo State. The announcement was made on Friday at the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) Palm House, Sapele Road, during a meeting with key stakeholders, including representatives from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other public health partners.
This declaration follows the confirmation of several cases through laboratory testing. In 2024, the state recorded 3,270 suspected cases, out of which 292 were confirmed positive, leading to 41 deaths and a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 14%. This represented an improvement compared to 2023, which saw 3,764 suspected cases, 372 confirmed cases, and 65 deaths, with a CFR of 17.6%. The 2025 epidemic year began on December 30, 2024. Since then, the state has recorded 336 suspected cases, of which 36 has been confirmed positive, with 8 deaths.
He said, to address the outbreak, the State Public Health Emergencies Response Management Team has activated its Incident Management Structure (IMS). Dr. Ekaete Tobi from the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) has been appointed as the State Lassa Fever Incident Manager, while Dr. Osahogie Edeawe will oversee case management.
Emergency measures include enhanced disease surveillance, scaling up treatment centers, public awareness campaigns, infection prevention and control, and strengthened collaborations with local and international health organizations. Healthcare workers will also receive protective equipment and training on Lassa Fever management.
Dr. Oshiomhole emphasized the importance of public vigilance and early reporting of symptoms such as fever, weakness, headache, vomiting, or bleeding. Residents were advised to adopt preventive practices like proper hygiene, rodent control, and safe food storage to curb the spread of the disease.
Lassa Fever, a viral hemorrhagic disease endemic to Edo State, remains a recurring public health challenge.
The Commissioner expressed confidence in the state’s readiness to reduce fatalities further in 2025, with the goal of achieving a single-digit or zero CFR. The government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting all necessary interventions to contain the outbreak.
