NMA declares disease a national epidemic

Following the recent reports of the spread of the Lassa Fever disease, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has declared that it has assumed the status of a national epidemic.

A statement signed by the NMA President, Dr. Kayode Obembe and Secretary-General, Dr. Adewunmi Alayaki, said “The Federal Government should get the remaining three reported laboratories in the country that are able to identify the Lassa fever virus to full operation and/or establish new ones to augment these.

“This is very important in the Calabar-Enugu-Makurdi-Yola-Maiduguri areas of the country to augment the functioning ones in Lagos, Ibadan, Irrua, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano.”

Adding that “The dry season (such as we now are in) is usually the highest season of Lassa fever because of bush burning that drive these rats from the bushes into the homes, preferably. Other local and cultural habits of drying foods on the roads, streets and even around houses carelessly also provide avenues for the spread of the virus.”

The doctors also said “Outside of Bauchi, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Edo and the other states in which the current epidemics are noted, all should know that no state in Nigeria should relax that they are not involved or affected. Lassa fever is not exclusive to any state because of the random population-mixing pattern in the country.”

The Nigerian Medical Association is the regulatory body that governs the medical practise in Nigeria