Lassa Fever hits communities in Edo

Monday, January 14, 2019 11:55 pm

Lassa fever is contracted from dropping of rodents

Scores feared dead, victims cry out for help over huge medical bills

Victims complain of neglect by both Edo,Federal governments

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Scores of people are feared dead as the deadly Lassa Fever virus hits Jettu Community,Auchi and it’s environs in Etsako local Government area of Edo State and are lying critically ill in Irrua Specialist Hospital also in Edo state.

Investigation showed that the Lassa Fever which has reached epidemic proportion has been ravaging Jettu and other communtiesi around Auchi, the headquarters of Etsako West local government area f Edo State

Its therefore difficult to know if the state Government under,Governor Godwin Obaseki is aware of the highly infectious deadly viral disease.

However,it was learnt that the health officers from Etsako West local area are merely sending Thermometers to members of families of already affected victims to monitor their temperature,while infected persons are daily dumped at Irrua Specialist Hospital.

Regrettably,our Correspondent has spoken to a member of a member of a family where the father,son and mother have been infected with the lassa fever disease.They victims are cryout fo help over huge medical bills.

“My father,brother and mother have incurred hundreds of thousands of Naira as medical bill.My mother’s immune systems have been affected because she has been nursing my father and brother befoshe got infected.She is now on dialysis.

“We neeed urgent help from the Edo atate government.I am confused,”Miss Ogor cried on phone.

Her family has in addition been charged N15,000 by the Council officials to disinfect their house.

At the time of the report, the woman is in critical condition and undergoing dialysis due to the ravaging effect of the viruses in her immune systems and are appealing to the Edo state Government to come to their aid at the hospital bed at Irrua.

Persons who have certified free of viral infection have advised to flee from Jettu and other communities where the disease has reached epidemic proportion.

Etsako West is a local government area Edo State which falls between the northern senatorial zone also known as Edo north-central senatorial district alongside Etsako central, Akoko-Edo and Owan east and west local government areas which constitutes a federal constituency with Esako East and Central local government.

At the time of this report, no official of the state government could be reached to state the official position on the epidemic.

Lassa virus is carried by an infected specie of rat who contacts with man causes deadly disease and noticeable after 21 day of incubation and major symptom is a very high fever. It could be fatal if not treated.