Minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, has linked the strange deaths in Enugu State and others to Yellow fever.
Ehanire made this known while responding to a question from state house correspondents on reasons behind the strange deaths.
According to the Health Minister, the outbreak started in Delta before hitting Enugu and the two other states making it a total of four states.
He said the analysis done so far indicated yellow fever, adding that the National Center for Disease ,NCDC, has responded with vaccination exercise in the affected areas.
“A few days ago, there was also a report from a member of the national assembly saying that in his constituency there are unexplained illnesses and deaths and that alarm also immediately triggered a response, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control has been directed to go and carry out an investigation,” Ehanire said.
“As we speak they have to collect samples, do tests, and do some laboratory investigations before we are sure exactly what it is and what the cause is. So the response is going on automatically and we shall get the result very soon.”
Also Read : Health Minister, NCDC DG kick against Control of Infectious Disease Bill
Enugu State has been battling to contain the outbreak of the disease in two communities – Ette Uno and Umuopu – in Igbo-Eze North local government area of the state which has now spread to Nsukka, Isi-Uzo.
Delta State has recorded no fewer than 22 deaths in Ika North East local government area of the state due to the outbreak of the disease.
The Health Minister and his counterpart in the Ministry of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu also briefed Council on their interface with stakeholders in their respective states as regards #ENDSARS protests.
Sulieman said no incident was recorded in his home State, Jigawa and Sokoto states and commended the youths for adhering to President Muhammadu Buhari’s appeal.
Ehanire, said he met with stakeholders in Edo and Delta states over the protests and reported incidences that occurred to the Federal Executive Council meeting.
Also Read : Two cases of Yellow Fever Confirmed in Bauchi
President Muhammadu Buhari had recently asked his ministers to relocate to their respective home states for the purpose of dousing the tension created by the #ENDSARS protests and the lawlessness that followed.
Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on his part said his Ministry updated Council on the progress in the various Federal Secretariats in Gombe, Benue and Ekiti states among others, as well as efforts in the national housing programme, and government’s intervention in the sector.
(Editor:Abaje Usekwe)
