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The Ministry of Health in Abia
has confirmed the outbreak of lassa fever in Olokoro community, Umuahia South
Local Government Area.
The
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Chief Egbulefu Eze, told newsmen in
Umuahia on Tuesday that a 28-year-old man, who died in the community, was
diagnosed of lassa fever.
Eze
allayed the fears of possible epidemic in the state, saying that the ministry
was taking measures to contain the spread of the disease.
He said
that the victim died on January 1 at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia,
where he was admitted.
He
said, “I want to report about an outbreak of lassa fever at Olokoro,” the
permanent secretary said, adding that it was the fourth time Abia would
experience the outbreak since 1999.
He said
that the state government had always contained previous outbreaks and was
already on top of the situation.
“There’s
no cause for alarm. Government is on top of the situation,” Eze said.
He said
that in the course of the investigation, all those that came in close contact
with the deceased had been identified and placed under close surveillance.
He said
that the disease surveillance officers of the ministry was already consulting
with the state office of the World Health Organisation to map out strategies to
checkmate the spread of the disease.
Speaking
on the disease, the Medical Director of FMC Umuahia, Dr Azubuike Onyebuchi,
said that the deceased was initially suspected to be suffering from acute
appendicitis.
Onyebuchi
said that further examination on the man revealed a case of lassa fever.
He said
that the hospital had identified all the hospital personnel that came in
contact with him and placed them on 21 days surveillance.
Also,
the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council, Dr Ugochukwu Onyeonoro, said that
the hospital had been “decontaminated”.
Onyeonoro
said that the patient was brought to FMC from another hospital and that the
state government was promptly informed after the case of lassa fever was
established. (NAN) Proinvest Polska
