Adebayo Folorunsho-FrancisNigerian pharmacists say they do not stock the Lassa fever drug of choice, Ribavirin, because it is not a medication for the treatment of “typical day-to-day ailments.”They said that only the Federal Government can stock products like that. The pharmacists and operators of pharmaceutical outlets disclosed this to PUNCH HealthWise as Nigeria continues to fight the haemorrhagic fever that has continued to spread throughout the nation. So far, at least 12 states have recorded over 200 confirmed cases of Lassa fever outbreaks, with about 41 deaths, according to the Director General, Nigeria Centre For Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu. Ribavirin is an antiviral medication that is used in the treatment of viral infections, including Lassa fever, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, hepatitis C and some viral haemorrhagic fevers. It may be recalled that, on January 4, 2016, the World Health Organisation in Nigeria donated 7,000 vials of Ribavirin to Nigeria towards treating cases of Lassa fever outbreak then.

Source: Punch February 02, 2020 04:17 UTC