At least 10 people have died of Lassa fever in the southeast state of Ebonyi in Nigeria within the space of 40 days.
This was disclosed on Sunday in a statement by a disease surveillance officer at the Ebonyi State Ministry of Health, Sampson Orogwu.
“At least 25 people were infected, including two healthcare workers… From Jan. 4 to Feb. 16,” Orogwu said.
The state government and other relevant agencies are working together to halt the spread of the infectious disease, the military said.
According to the chief epidemiologist of the state, Ogbonna Nwambeke, logistics should be provided to improve the surveillance of risk factors in the state.
Ogbonna also advised the public to desist from consuming rats, contacting surfaces touched by infected persons, and bush burning to curtail the spread of Lassa fever.
According to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), at least 219 people died of the infection out of 1,227 confirmed cases in 2023.