Lassa Fever Spreads to Jos, Claims One

“Lassa Fever is a zoonotic disease, which means that humans become infected by contact with infected animals”.

Meanwhile, about 100 persons are now under close monitoring following their contact with mother and child who had died of Lassa fever.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Theophilus Odagme, who disclosed this to journalists in Port Harcourt, also said the ministry was in touch with the husband of the victim as well as several other persons that had contact with the deceased and her baby.

He explained that verifying the cases as well as tracing of contacts; clinicians and relevant healthcare workers has been sensitized and mobilized in areas of patient management and care in the affected states; and affected states have been advised to intensify awareness creation on the sign and symptoms including preventive measure such as general hygiene.

“In the last six weeks Nigeria has been experiencing Lassa fever outbreak which so far has affected 10 states in the country”.

The latest outbreak in Nigeria has been spreading for more than six weeks since its first case was recorded in the northeastern state of Bauchi.

“The disease can be contacted by ingestion of foods and drinks contaminated by the saliva, urine and faeces of infected rats; catching and preparing infected rats as food, inhaling tiny particles in the air contaminated with infected rat urine or droppings, direct contact with a sick person’s blood or body fluids, through mucous membranes, like eyes, nose, or mouth”.

According to the WHO, Lassa fever is an acute haemorrhagic illness which belongs to the arenarvirus family of viruses, which also includes the Ebola-like Marburg virus.

A statement by the spokesperson of the ministry, Mrs Boade Akinola, said the minister appealed to the public to watch out for the following symptoms – weakness, headaches, slight fever, sore throat, vomiting, rashes, tremors and restlessness among others.

The commissioner, however, called on the public to keep calm and to report any suspected case to the nearest health facility for prompt attention.

“The total number (of suspected cases) reported is 86 and 40 deaths, with a mortality rate of 43.2 percent”, Adewole told a news conference in the capital, Abuja.