Nigeria: The Lassa hemorrhagic viral fever resurfaces claiming two lives

The Lassa Haemorrhagic fever has claimed two lives in Ogun State capital, Abeokuta, creating fear among residents over the re-emergence of the viral disease.

Just four months earlier, the state government had declared the state free of the fever, but so far, the viral disease has killed an assistant nursing officer and a mortuary attendant, who both had contact with a Lassa fever patient, at the University College Hospital (UCH), in Ibadan.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye who issued a statement following the recent deaths, called for calmness adding that the fever can only be transmitted by getting into contact with body fluid unlike Ebola which could be transmitted through air and other means.

“We are going to immediately create an isolation centre here at the Federal Medical Centre to cater for unexpected emergencies related to Lassa fever and also include other communicable diseases. We have also sent out officers to confirm the root of the cases,” he said.

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has however been called upon to release a detailed brief on the matter as soon as it concludes its investigations.

At the same time, medical practitioners have been urged to take necessary precaution in treating patients and report any suspected cases of the fever to the state epidemiologist. Lassa fever symptoms include: fever, headache and vomiting.

CCTV Africa