*As FG probes mysterious deaths in Enugu, Delta
Nigeria has recorded fresh cases of the viral haemorrhagic fever, Ebola.
Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a briefing of the Presidential Taskforce PTF on COVID-19.
Ehanire stated that, from three cases last week, eight new cases were recorded this week.
It would be recalled that the Ebola Virus Disease was first recorded in Nigeria in July 2014. The country would go on to have 20 confirmed
Meanwhile, government also announced its decision to prove the circumstances surrounded some mysterious deaths in Enugu and Delta states, even as it cautioned religious houses against flouting the COVID-19 safety guidelines.
According to the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, while the government strives to contain the spread of the disease, it will continue to keep its eyes on other diseases that threaten the health of Nigerians.
“One of such diseases is Lassa fever which is a viral haemorrhagic disease characterized by one or more of the following symptoms: malaise, fever, headache, sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain, chest pain, hearing loss.
“So far this year, we have recorded 1,131 confirmed cases in 27 states. However, the number of new confirmed cases of Ebola has increased from 3 in the last week to 11 cases this week. This year, we have recorded 233 deaths with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 20.6%. This is slightly lower than the CFR for the same period in 2019 (21.0%).
“Although nearly three-quarters of the confirmed cases are in Ondo state, Lassa fever can affect anyone anywhere. We therefore advise all to be vigilant and especially as we approach the season when we usually record increased incidence. We know that fatality is lower if the patients report early for treatment. We therefore advise that any individual presenting with the above symptoms and with either a history of contact with excreta or urine of rodents or history of contact with a probable or confirmed Lassa fever case within a period of 21 days of onset of symptoms or any person with inexplicable bleeding to visit the nearest health facility immediately for testing and treatment.
“We are investigating the incidence of unexplained deaths in Delta and Enugu States. Our team of experts have been dispatched to the states to support the state investigation. In Delta State, 23 cases have been reported with 17 deaths while in Enugu State, 51 deaths have been reported. In both states, most of the affected cases are males aged between 1-55 years.
“Most reported cases presented with fever, headache, fatigue, and weakness, jaundice, abdominal pain, vomiting (with or without blood), nose bleeding, blood in stools/urine, convulsions and unconsciousness.
“As at the 6th of November, three samples from Delta and one sample from Enugu have been confirmed positive for yellow fever”, Ehanire stated.
