Sequel to the outbreak of the deadly Lassa fever in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the Federal Government has placed 15 people under surveillance.
The nation’s capital recorded its first death from Lassa fever on Wednesday, at the National Hospital, Abuja.
This now brings the total deaths across 10 other states to 43.
Also, as part of immediate measures to curb the spread, no fewer than 35 persons that the victim might have come in contact with are now being traced in Abuja.
The Coordinator of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Professor Abdulsalam Nasidi, confirmed the number under surveillance and those being traced.
Nasidi, however, said that the number of people under surveillance might increase before the end of the day as the contact tracing was still on.
In another development, the National Hospital has set up an Isolation Centre for the treatment of Lassa fever in FCT.
The spokesperson of the National Hospital, Tayo Haastrup, disclosed this on Thursday. Haastrup told FCT residents not to panic as the hospital workers had been prepared for such cases should there be any reoccurrence.
He said the test conducted on the other suspected patients came out negative.
Also, the Federal Government, on Thursday, warned medical and health facilities to stop hoarding information on Lassa fever to curb further spread of the disease.
The government also warned medical and health workers against shielding victims of the disease or treating them of other ailments other than Lassa fever in quest for money.
It also advised relatives of persons who contacted the disease and affected communities to report suspicious signs to health authorities for prompt action.
The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole issued the warning and advice while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Lassa fever control measures adopted by the government in Abuja, on Thursday.
On the latest case recorded at the National Hospital, Abuja, Adewole confirmed the death of a 33-year-old newly married man from Jos, Plateau State.
According to him, the death of the young man brought to 43 the total number of deaths recorded in 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).
The minister also advised bereaved family members to report at the nearest hospital if anyone had fever for more than two days.
Adewole called on residents of affected states not to panic, but to maintain high level vigilance and present themselves for test if they noticed symptoms of Lassa fever.
Meanwhile, the Medical Director, National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Jack Momoh, has explained that the deceased was brought to the hospital when he became unconscious at a private hospital in Kubwa, FCT.
Also, the Minister of Health, Professor Adewole on Thursday appeared before the Senate Committee on Health, describing as a national embarrassment the outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria, which had in the last one week, claimed 10 lives across four states.
Also, the minister, who was summoned by the Senate on Tuesday, to appear before the committee, informed the Senate of efforts being made by his ministry at curtailing the outbreak. He said the disease being a native of west Africa, to have been rendered impotent over the years.
He said “Unlike Ebola, which took the nation by surprise last year, after being imported from Liberia by an infected person, Lassa fever which has over the years registered its presence in the country, supposed not to have taken us by surprise, had infected people reported promptly.”
Adewole insisted that the current outbreak started in August last year, in Foka village in Niger State, but has now spread across nine states of the federation, due to non-reportage of its infection and death of victims to the appropriate authorities.
By: Ayodele Adesanmi
Trubune News
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