The Ogun State Government has assured residents not to exercise unnecessary fear over the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

The government’s call comes on the heels of reported cases of the disease in some states in Nigeria.

In a statement, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Mr Babatunde Ipaye, said that the government has activated its disease surveillance and notification structures.

He explained that the structures would detect any case of Lassa fever on time and deploy appropriate measures to prevent and control the spread of the disease.

The Commissioner called on residents to maintain a high standard of personal hygiene and ensure all food stock are tightly closed.

He urged members of the public to take note of persistent high fever that has resisted normal antimalarial drugs treatment, stressing that all fluids from an infected person are extremely dangerous.

Health workers were also advised to be at alert by wearing personal protective equipment and observe universal basic precautions.

Mr Ipaye identified the symptoms of the disease as weakness, sore throat, abdominal pains, muscle pain and bleeding from any part of the body such as the eye, nose, mouth, ear and other private parts of the body.

He advised members of the public to report any case of the above symptoms to the nearest general hospital or call the Lassa fever hotlines 09099140121 and 09099140122.

(Channels TV)

•Photo shows a Lassa fever patient receiving medical attention.