THE Kwara State government has put in place measures to prevent an outbreak of the deadly Lassa fever reported in parts of Oyo and Niger States. Kwara shares boundaries with Oyo at Asa Local Government Area (LGA), and with Niger at Moro, Edu, Kiama and Patigi LGAs.

All government-owned hospitals have been put on red alert with instructions to report "any slightest case" directly to the state's Ministry of Health.

In a chat with The Guardian, yesterday in Ilorin, Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Mahmoud Ajeigbe, said following the breakout of the viral disease, the state government also set up a monitoring committee.

Similarly, the Chief Medical Director of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Professor Abdulwaheed Olatinwo, said the hospital, in accordance with Federal Government directive, has established an isolation centre for the management of patients diagnosed with the disease.

Ajeigbe, who said no case of the disease has yet been reported in Kwara, noted that the state government is working on modalities to prevent any outbreak, even as he urged people not to panic but maintain high level of hygiene.

He said, "hot and direct telephone lines" of the state's Ministry of Health have been given to all health care centres, and warned members of the public against harbouring persons with symptoms of the disease. "The good news, for now, is that the disease is not in Kwara, and we pray it does not get here," he said.

Giving an update on the disease at the weekend in Abuja, the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, urged Nigerians not to panic. He disclosed that 10 states have, so far, been affected in the last six weeks, adding that government and its partners are working tirelessly to contain the outbreak.

"The affected states include Bauchi, Nassarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo, Plateau, Gombe and Oyo. The total number so far reported is 81 and 35 deaths, with a mortality rate of 43.2 per cent. Our laboratories have confirmed 17 cases, indicative of a new round trip of Lassa fever outbreak.

"The first case of the current outbreak was reported from Bauchi in November last year. This was followed by cases reported by Kano State and subsequently the other states mentioned above," Adewole said.

He said the Ministry has released adequate quantities of Ribavirin, the specific antiviral drug for Lassa fever; to all the affected states for prompt and adequate treatment of cases, deployed rapid response teams to all the affected states to assist in investigating and verifying cases, as well as tracing of contacts.

He stressed: "Clinicians and relevant healthcare workers have been sensitised and mobilised in areas of patient management and care in the affected states.

"Affected states have been advised to intensify awareness creation on the signs and symptoms, including preventive measures, such as general hygiene."