The Edo State Government has confirmed the outbreak of dengue fever, with 86 cases already recorded across the state.
This is as the state is also battling an outbreak of Lassa fever, which has claimed 24 lives from 137 confirmed cases since the beginning of the year.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole, disclosed this during a press briefing in Benin City, where he announced that an Emergency Operations Centre had been activated to contain the spread of dengue fever.
He said the Director of Public Health in the state, Dr Stephenson Ojiefoh, had been appointed as the Incident Manager to lead the response effort.
‘The Edo State Ministry of Health confirms the outbreak of Dengue Fever. So far, 86 cases have been reported across the state. We have put measures in place, including surveillance, case management, vector control and environmental sanitation in affected areas’, Oshiomhole said.
He explained that Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti, and spreads rapidly in areas with stagnant water and poor sanitation.
The commissioner urged residents to keep their surroundings clean, destroy mosquito breeding sites, cover water containers, use insect repellents and sleep under mosquito nets.
Oshiomhole also disclosed that two cases of yellow fever had been confirmed with one death, while eight cases of monkeypox had been recorded with no fatality.
He added that eight cases of diphtheria were confirmed, resulting in three deaths.
He assured that the government of Governor Monday Okpebholo would continue to prioritise public health and would not relent until all outbreaks are brought under control.
