Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has revealed that the state recorded 48 confirmed cases of Lassa fever, resulting in 23 fatalities, between January and December 2024.
The governor made this disclosure during the handover of Lassa fever support activities by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) to the state’s Ministry of Health on Thursday in Abakaliki, the state capital. He noted that 25 infected individuals received treatment and were successfully discharged, while expressing deep sorrow over the lives lost to the disease.
Governor Nwifuru described the high fatality rate of Lassa fever in Ebonyi and across Nigeria as alarming, commending MSF for its significant contributions to the health and well-being of residents in the state.
He attributed the spread of Lassa fever to poor health-seeking behaviours, inadequate sanitation, limited awareness, and insufficient community engagement. To address these challenges, the governor echoed his administration’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery, particularly in combating life-threatening diseases such as Lassa fever and cholera.
Highlighting some of the government’s health initiatives, Nwifuru mentioned the recruitment of healthcare professionals, procurement of medical equipment, and revitalisation of 171 primary healthcare centres across the state.
Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, is primarily transmitted through contact with multimammate rats.
