With 86 cases now reported around the state, the Edo State Government has verified the dengue fever outbreak.  

At the same time, the state is dealing with a Lassa virus outbreak that has killed 24 people out of 137 confirmed cases since the year started.  

During a press briefing in Benin City, State Commissioner for Health Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole revealed this and said that an Emergency Operations Center had been established to stop the spread of dengue disease.  

He said that Dr. Stephenson Ojiefoh, the state's director of public health, had been named incident manager to oversee the response.

“The Edo State Ministry of Health confirms the outbreak of Dengue Fever. So far, 86 cases have been reported across the state. We have put measures in place, including surveillance, case management, vector control and environmental sanitation in affected areas,” Oshiomhole said.

He clarified that Aedes mosquitoes, namely Aedes aegypti, are the vectors of dengue fever, a virus that spreads quickly in places with standing water and inadequate sanitation.  

The commissioner advised locals to apply insect repellents, cover water containers, eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, keep their surroundings clean, and sleep under mosquito nets.

Source