There was palpable tension in Lagos on Friday as the state government confirmed two more cases of Lassa fever in the state, with one of the victims already dead.
This has brought the number of Lassa fever cases in the state to three, including the index case at Ahmaddiya Hospital in Ojokoro part of the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, Friday said the index case was responding to treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
The second victim, he said, is a 36-year-old lady, an indigene of Kogi State, who was first discovered at Naval Reference Hospital, Ojo on January 18, before she was referred to Mainland Hospital the same day, and has since been receiving antiviral medication.
According to him, the third person died because his case was presented late.
He is said to be a 51-year-old resident of Ilasan Leki and indigene of Edo State.
He was initially admitted at Divine Medical Centre in Ikoyi on January 12, this year, but died at 2 pm the same day before the result of the laboratory test that confirmed him positive was received.
His corpse has been kept in the morgue in a leak proof body bag.
“The three confirmed cases are not related in terms of source of infections,” he stated.
The Commissioner said his ministry had requested for more Ribavirin injection and tablets, personal protective equipments (PPEs) and other items from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Abuja.
The Commissioner for Environment, Hon Samuel Adejare, said open defecation and dirty environment should be avoided in order to rid the environment of rodents.
He said: “Cultural change is expected at this point in time. People should learn to live more responsibly.
“The state, through the Ministry of Environment, will step up its game of environmental laws through the police and Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) Brigade.”