The Edo State Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Dengue Fever, with 86 cases reported across several local government areas.
The announcement was made during a press briefing by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole.
Dr Oshiomhole assured residents that the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo remains committed to protecting public health and is taking swift measures to curb the outbreak.
He revealed that the Director of Public Health, Dr Stephenson Ojiefoh, has been appointed as the incident manager to lead the response efforts.
To strengthen containment, the state has activated its Emergency Operations Centre and launched a comprehensive response plan.
According to the Commissioner, this plan includes surveillance, case management, vector control, and environmental sanitation across all affected communities.
He urged healthcare professionals across the state to remain on high alert and to report any suspected cases promptly to ensure early intervention.
Officials from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the State Disease Surveillance Team, the U.S. Centre for Disease Control (CDC), and senior personnel from the Ministry of Health were present at the briefing, reinforcing the urgency and collaborative effort behind the state’s response.
Explaining the nature of the disease, Dr Oshiomhole said Dengue Fever is caused by a virus transmitted through the bite of Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti.
The disease spreads rapidly in areas with poor sanitation and stagnant water, which create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
To help prevent further spread, the commissioner advised residents to keep their surroundings clean, cover water containers, sleep under mosquito nets, use insect repellents, and eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites.
In addition to the Dengue outbreak, the commissioner provided updates on other public health concerns in the state.
He disclosed that Lassa Fever has recorded 137 confirmed cases and 24 deaths, Yellow Fever has two confirmed cases with one fatality, Monkeypox (also known as Mpox) has eight confirmed cases with no deaths, and Diphtheria has eight confirmed cases with three deaths.
The Ministry of Health reiterated its commitment to ongoing surveillance and intervention to protect lives and minimise the spread of infectious diseases in the state.
