Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has said that despite global concern over the outbreak of coronavirus, the disease was not as deadly as the media has painted it, insisting that Lassa fever was more deadly than the coronavirus.
Dr. Ihekweazu, who addressed members of the House of Representatives Committee on Health Services on Tuesday, also said that the disease, which was discovered in China, has spread to about 23 countries across the globe, hinting that there was no need for travel restriction to and from China.
He told the lawmakers that the nation was faced with a more deadly disease in Lassa fever than the incidences of coronavirus.
Dr. Ihekweazu said so far, about 364 cases of Lassa fever has been identified across 23 in the country with 47 death, noting that there might be more of such cases as a result of environmental issues in the country.
The Director General said that about one per cent of those affected by coronavirus has actually died of the ailment, noting that those who died of the virus have either been aged people or those with health related issues.
He said human to human transmission of the ailment has been reported in only three countries outside China, hiting that there has been a coordinated international response to the disease,
He also stressed that the World Health Organisation, WHO, has warned against imposing travel and business restriction against China because of the outbreak of the disease.
He said further said that the best way to prevent any virus from spreading is to prevent it from the source, adding that China has been very proactive in dealing with the disease, including building a hospital within 10 days.
Dr. Ihekweazu said the Nigerian government has put in place measures to identify cases of the virus, adding that airport authorities and other relevant agencies of government have intensify screening, while the centre has also intensify media advocacy.
