The Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fintan Ekochin has denied a report in front page of Vanguard newspaper of August 13, 2018, alleging a spread of Lassa fever in the state, stating that the publication is false and misleading.

Reacting to the development, the Health Commissioner said that the false report is capable of causing undue panic among the residents of the state at a time when personal hygiene and environment sanitization should be the paramount message.

Dr. Ekochin explained that the state had one confirmed case of Lassa fever, which was duly made public last week, adding that none of the close contacts of the confirmed victim has till date tested positive for the disease.

Wondering who the “source” that the reporter quoted was, his or her integrity and medical proficiency, Dr. Ekochin urged the general public to disregard the report of the purported spread of Lassa fever in Enugu State.

He therefore, maintained that the state government is committed, through its new Public Health Emergency Centre, to continue active surveillance and control measures in keeping with its resolve to ensure health security and wellbeing of the people of the state.