Edward Oseghe
The Edo State Government has confirmed an outbreak of Dengue Fever, with 86 cases reported across several Local Government Areas.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole, disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing held in Benin City.
The briefing was attended by representatives of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Edo State Disease Surveillance Team, Ministry of Health Directors, officials of the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), and other key stakeholders.
Dengue Fever, a viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes – particularly Aedes aegypti – spreads rapidly, especially in areas with poor sanitation and stagnant water which serve as breeding sites for mosquitoes.
To curb the spread, residents have been urged to keep their surroundings clean, cover water containers, destroy mosquito breeding sites, sleep under treated nets, and use insect repellents.
Healthcare workers have also been placed on high alert to promptly report suspected cases.
Providing further updates on other disease situations in the state, Dr. Oshiomhole revealed that Edo has recorded 137 confirmed cases of Lassa Fever with 24 deaths, two confirmed cases of Yellow Fever with one death, eight confirmed cases of mpox with no deaths, and eight confirmed cases of Diphtheria resulting in three deaths.
To effectively tackle the outbreaks, the Commissioner announced the appointment of Dr. Stephenson Ojiefo, Director of Public Health, as the incident manager to coordinate response activities.
He said the state’s Emergency Operation Center has been activated while a comprehensive response plan involving surveillance, case management, vector control, and environmental sanitation is being rolled out across affected areas.
Dr. Oshiomhole assured residents that the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration remains committed to safeguarding public health and will intensify efforts to bring all disease outbreaks under control.
