Edo State has recorded 10 more cases of Lassa fever, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 81, with eight deaths.

Briefing journalists in Benin City at the weekend, the state commissioner for health, Prof Obehi Akoria, said the 10 new cases were confirmed in five local government areas in the state including, Etsako West, Esan North East, Esan West, Akoko Edo, Etsako Central.

Reassuring the government's commitment to containing the pandemic and ensuring the health and well-being of residents, Akoria urged the residents to complement the government's efforts by complying with preventive protocols against the spread of the disease.

According to her, "We have continued to witness a steady rise in the number of confirmed cases and deaths from Lassa fever with ten new cases confirmed in five local councils in the state. We now have a total of 81 confirmed cases with eight deaths from the disease."

She said the 81 confirmed cases are spread across 11 local government areas in the state, including Etsako West 33, Esan West 19, Esan North East 16, Esan Central 2, and Esan South East with 2 confirmed cases.

Others are Etsako East 2, Owan East 2, Akoko Edo 2, Ovia North East 1, Oredo 1 and Etsako Central with one confirmed case.

Decrying the rising number of fatalities from the virus, the commissioner said the state now has a case fatality rate of 10 percent, adding that the eight deaths were recorded in four local councils in the state including Etsako West, 4; Esan North East, 2; Etsako East, 1 and Oredo with one death.

Akoria said most of the deaths recorded in the state were persons who were unwell and failed to report to a proper hospital for care until they developed complications, urging residents to "take responsibility to work with the ministry of health, observe preventive measures and report early symptoms suspected to be malaria or any other illnesses that present like malaria."