Ebonyi Begins Mass Immunization Campaign Against Yellow Fever
By Joyce Aroh Abakaliki
Following the outbreak of yellow fever, Ebonyi State Government Is set to begin a mass immunization campaign against further spread of the virus in the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Daniel Umezurike who disclosed this to newsmen on Monday, in Abakaliki while refuting the dead figures gave to newsmen on Friday by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health Dr Chris Achi.
Umezurike noted that the state has carried out full investigation on the outbreak of yellow fever and found out that only nine positive cases have so far been identified with two deaths recorded while six persons were on admission in hospitals.
He, explained that International Coordinating Group(ICG) has been completed for the mass vaccination of all residents of Ebonyi state while noting that it would organize the campaign with all United Nations agencies and other partners to conduct mass immunization for the state within the target age of nine months to 44 years.
Umezurike added that those above the ages would get immunisation booster. Nigerian Centre for Disease Control(NCDC) declared this an outbreak of yellow fever and reactivated the national Rapid response team comprising NCDC, NAPHCDA, WHO on 1st August 2019 to support our state.
“ Summary of the situation report is that since the current outbreak of yellow fever, Ebonyi state has recorded a total of nine positive cases with two deaths among positive cases.
“Presently, we still have six patients on admission; three in Ndingele MDG, one in Iboko General Hospital and two in Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki. however, the index case has been successfully managed and discharged from MDG Ndingele.”
However, the State Government has urged all the residents to remain calm and go about their normal businesses while working assiduously to prevent further spread of the virus.
