Edo has recorded 56 Lassa fever cases and eight deaths between Dec. 30, 2024 and January 2025, says the Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole.

Oshiomhole confirmed the incident on Friday in Benin while formally declaring the situation of Lassa fever in the state.

“The 2025 epidemic year began on Dec. 30, 2024. Since then, 336 suspected cases have been reported, with 56 confirmed and eight resulting in death,” he said.

He said the outbreak posed significant public health risks due to its rapid transmission potentials and severe outcomes if not effectively managed.

Oshiomhole revealed that 14 patients are currently receiving specialised care at the Lassa Fever Treatment Center in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH).

He also noted that “In 2024, the state recorded 3,270 suspected cases, 292 confirmed cases, and 41 deaths, showing a decline from 2023 which recorded 65 deaths from 372 confirmed cases.”

According to him, the state has activated its Public Health Emergencies Response Management Team, collaborating with healthcare facilities, community leaders, and stakeholders to contain the outbreak.

As part of the response, measures include “enhanced surveillance, expanded treatment centers, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), public awareness campaigns, and partnerships with health organisations.”

He urged residents to report anyone with symptoms like fever, weakness, headaches, vomiting, or bleeding to the nearest health facility for early detection.

The commissioner also tasked the response team to reduce the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) and assured of government support to enhance Lassa fever management efforts.

He further said the molecular laboratory at UBTH had been optimised for Lassa fever testing, increasing the state’s capacity with two testing centers at UBTH and ISTH.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dr Ekaete Tobi of ISTH has been appointed as the state Lassa fever Incident Manager to coordinate outbreak control activities.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recently sealed a warehouse in Kaduna for storing expired food and cosmetic products valued at over N75 million.

The agency announced the development on its official X handle, identifying the warehouse’s location as PP2A Bayajidda Street by Kano Road, New Ogbomosho Road. The operation was prompted by a tip-off from a concerned citizen, leading to a raid by NAFDAC enforcement officers.

During the operation, workers were caught repackaging expired biscuits into sacks. Other expired items, including dairy milk, vegetable oil, soft drinks, and detergents, were also uncovered, underscoring the severity of the malpractice.

The warehouse’s managing director was apprehended for interrogation. NAFDAC assured the public that strict regulatory actions would follow the investigation to deter others from engaging in similar illegal practices.

The agency encouraged citizens to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities or products to the nearest NAFDAC office, emphasizing the importance of public cooperation in ensuring safety standards.

In a related development, NAFDAC recently shut down a pharmacy on Onitsha Crescent, Area 11 – Garki, Abuja, for selling expired and unregistered drugs. Among the discoveries were expired products worth over N7 million, including “H-Pylori” test kits, which pose significant health risks. The pharmacy’s Managing Director and Superintendent Pharmacist were arrested as part of the investigation.

Since November 2024, NAFDAC has established comprehensive guidelines for the handling and disposal of unwholesome products. These include food, medicines, medical devices, and cosmetics. The agency has reiterated that no regulated product can be manufactured, imported, exported, sold, or used in Nigeria without proper registration.

Unwholesome products, as defined by NAFDAC, include items that are expired, counterfeit, substandard, improperly stored, incorrectly labeled, or unauthorized. Facilities are required to maintain an inventory of such products and follow disposal guidelines to ensure compliance.

NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has emphasized the agency’s commitment to upholding safety and quality standards. She highlighted that enforcing best practices, ensuring supply chain integrity, and monitoring regulated products remain core pillars in safeguarding public health and fulfilling NAFDAC’s mandate.

Through these efforts, NAFDAC continues to prioritize the health and well-being of Nigerians while sending a strong message to perpetrators of such illicit activities.

The Rivers State Government yesterday confirmed the death of nine persons in two local government areas from an outbreak of cholera.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, who spoke in Port Harcourt yesterday, said three died in Andoni while six casualties were recorded in Akuku-Toru

She said the death occurred from 41 suspected cases in the two councils but noted that the government through the Ministry of Health had put measures in place to halt the disease.

Oreh said:  “With the deepest sense of sympathy to victims of a suspected outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea caused by suspected cholera outbreak, because we, at the Ministry of Health, are yet to actually confirm that those deaths were from Cholera in Isiodun community of Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

“However, the symptoms of the cases reported are in keeping with the surveillance case definition of cholera.

“Cholera is an acute diarrhoea disease that is caused by the bacteria ‘vibrio cholerae’. It thrives in areas with poor water, sanitation and hygiene wash infrastructure.

“It is transmitted by drinking water that is contaminated or ingesting contaminated food as well as contact with surfaces that have been contaminated from infected persons”

She added: “As at the 13th of January, 2025 we have recorded a total of 41 suspected cases from two local government areas in the state. And those local governments are Andoni and Akuku-Toru.

“We have also recorded nine associated deaths out of which three are from Andoni. Six were confirmed from Akuku-Toru Local Government Area.

“It was majorly these deaths that were reported and brought to our attention that necessitates the quick response from our directorate of public health and Disease Control.