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Following the increase in reported cases of Lassa fever across the country, federal government has activated a National Emergency Operations Centre(EOC) on Friday to coordinate response activities.
The Director-General,Nigeria Centre for Disease Control(NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, stated that 29 deaths and 195 confirmed cases of Lassa fever have been reported in 11 states across the country.
Ihekweazu, explained that the current figures were as of Friday, January 24, adding that out of the confirmed cases, 89 percent were from Ondo, Edo and Ebonyi states.
The NCDC boss said that the increased number of cases at this time of the year was not unusual due to ecological factors.
Ihekweazu said the EOC includes representatives from the National Emergency Management Agency, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Environment, World Health Organisation, UNICEF, US Centres for Disease Control, and other partners.
He said the NCDC would continue to support states in strengthening their preparedness and response capacity, noting that over the last three weeks, NCDC had deployed Rapid Response Teams to support five of the affected states.
According to him, it will ensure prompt case management and other response activities in order to reduce the number of deaths.
The Lassa fever virus is transmitted by rodents, especially rats which can be found in the environment.