Benin — More than 55 persons have so far died from the Lassa fever epidemic between January 2008 and February 2009 out of the over 390 patients admitted as a result of the illness.

Besides, more than 51 million Nigerians are at risk, with the annual number of illness estimated at three million and with the number of death estimated at about 58,330.

The disclosure came as the Guild of Medical Directors yesterday in Abuja demanded adequate supply of Ribravirne (the antiviral drug for the treatment of Lassa fever) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs.

Chief Medical Director, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua Edo State, Prof. George Akpede, made the disclosure yesterday on the occasion of the commissioning of the Lassa Fever Diagnostic and Research Laboratory, Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control at the Irrua Specialists Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State.

He said Lassa fever epidemic was no longer limited to some states as it was thought but had assumed virtually a country-wide dimension.

The outbreak of Lassa fever had been confirmed in the FCT and its environs and out of the 12 cases reported since February, five patients had died.

Meanwhile, in a presentation on Lassa fever during the monthly meeting of the Abuja Chapter of the Guild, the National President, Dr Charles Cudjoe, called for more rapid diagnostic test centres for Lassa fever.

"The Guild did a survey at the outbreak of this disease and disturbingly we discovered that there was not enough Ribravirne. We discovered that the drug that is in stock in some pharmaceutical stores would expire this month.

"That is a bit of a problem because we need to tackle this as quickly as possible. All hands must be on deck to import these drugs from the companies that make them.

"Even if the epidemic does not expand, we should be able to handle the few cases that come in," he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) checks discovered that a pack of 45 tablets of Ribravirne 400mg is sold for 115 pounds (N26,000) in the UK while 84 tablets of the same drug went for 274 pounds (N63,000).

A survey had shown that Roche and Swipha are the two companies that manufacture this drug.

In Abuja, 45 tablets of Ribravirne 400mg went for N25,000 for a stock that is due to expire this month while the cost for the same drug with a longer expiration date is about N120, 000.Cudjoe expressed reservation over the handling of the epidemic that was first discovered in the town of Lassa in Borno.