Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State
The Enugu state government has appealed to its citizens to obey released health protocols as it awaits samples of testing it conducted in new areas where cases of “strange deaths”, have been reported.
According to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, reports have also been received of “strange deaths” within communities in Nsukka, Isi-Uzo and Igbo-Etiti LGAs.
He said that earlier, following the confirmed cases of Yellow Fever in Igbo Eze North LGA of Enugu State and the concerted efforts to control the situation in the LGA by the Enugu State Government, Stakeholders and Partners; Federal and International, the Enugu State Ministry of Health Rapid Response Team, LGA Rapid Response Teams, International and National Partners have also visited these LGAs to investigate the reports and take samples for testing just as was done for the reports at Igboeze North.
“The new set of samples from these LGAs have been sent to the National Reference Laboratory at the Federal Capital Territory Abuja for a thorough and complete examination to determine conclusively the reasons for these new set of reports and the results are expected back early this week.
He condoled with ” all those who have lost loved ones in these times, and we recommend that all adhere to the following Public Health Advisory:
“Yellow Fever is transmitted through mosquito bites, thus remove mosquito breeding sites around your environment Yellow Fever Vaccination is not for treatment of Yellow Fever, it is for prevention of Yellow Fever. If you have been recently vaccinated against Yellow Fever, you do not need to be vaccinated again. It takes 10 days or more for Yellow fever vaccine to start working after you have received it, If you or your loved one are not feeling well, please visit or take your loved one to a nearby hospital for treatment
Trained Health Workers can recognize most of the diseases of public health importance and know what to do
He expressed the government’s appreciation to Traditional Rulers, Religious Leaders, President Generals of town Unions, other stakeholders and the good people of Enugu State who have in so many ways continued to contribute to this expedited response to the Yellow Fever epidemic in Enugu State.
