Lassa, yellow Fevers, diphtheria claimed 28 lives in Edo









By Editor

July 4, 2025


No fewer than 28 persons have been reportedly killed by Lassa, Yellow Fevers and Diptheria diseases in Edo State.

Dailymonitorngr reports that the Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole disclosed this on Friday at a press conference in  Benin City.

Oshiomhole also confirmed an outbreak of Dengue fever in the state.

He said 86 cases of the fever have been reported across several local government areas in the state.

He said out of the confirmed cases of 137 Lassa Fever, 24 deaths were recorded, out of the two cases of Yellow Fever, one death recorded while three deaths recorded of the eight confirmed cases of Diphtheria  disease.

The commissioner also added that no death was recorded of the eight confirmed cases of Monkeypox (Npox).


He stated that to tackle the situation, Dr  Stephenson Ojiefoh, the State Director of Public Health has been appointed as the incident manager to lead the response. 


According to him, after careful analysis of surveillance reports and confirmed laboratory data, I hereby officially declare an outbreak of Dengue Fever in Edo State.

"As of this morning, we have confirmed 86 cases of Dengue Fever across several Local Government Areas. While the number of deaths is still under verification, the trend is worrisome and calls for decisive, collective action.

"The Ministry of Health has activated the Emergency Operations Centre and is rolling out a statewide Dengue response plan. This includes surveillance, case management, vector control, risk communication, and environmental sanitation across all affected Local Government Areas.

"Dengue Fever is caused by a virus transmitted through the bite of Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti.

"The disease spreads quickly, especially in areas with poor sanitation and stagnant water, which provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes", he said 

Oshiomhole, however, advised residents to keep their surroundings clean, cover water containers, use mosquito nets, apply insect repellents, and destroy mosquito breeding sites in order to prevent the spread of the disease in the state

He also advised healthcare workers across the state to be on high alert and to report any suspected cases promptly.

The Health Commissioner, assured that the  Governor Monday Okpebholo remains fully committed to protecting the health of residents and will continue working until all outbreaks are brought under control.

Present at the briefing were representatives of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the State Disease Surveillance Team, Ministry of Health Directors, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), and other key stakeholders.

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