By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—MINISTER of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, weekend at Irrua, Edo State, disclosed that no fewer than 58 lives, of the 83 diagnosed with the disease, had been lost to the outbreak of the Lassa Fever virus in the country.

Ehanire, who spoke with journalists after inspecting facilities at the Lassa Treatment Centre located at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, said Federal Government was working towards ensuring that the yearly outbreak of the disease in Nigeria was curtailed.

He said: “We have been trying to curtail Lassa Fever, which is going down now, and Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital is one of the centres of excellence.

“This hospital is one of the centres with special facilities and I came to see how well the hospital is coping. I have seen what they are doing.

“I have seen development partners working with them. I have seen the equipment and the challenges and we are looking at ways to make sure Lassa Fever does not become a yearly problem.”