Contrary to general belief that Lassa fever had been eradicated in Delta State, the reported death of a 75 year old woman has again stirred an atmosphere of apprehension in the state.
According to official government statement, the victim took ill and was taken to the General Hospital, Umuolu, Ndokwa East Local Government Area (LGA) on 18th August, 2018.
She was thereafter referred to the Central Hospital, Kwale, Ndokwa West LGA the following day, 19th and from there was further referred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba on 24th August, 2018.
“At the FMC, Asaba, the victim’s blood sample was taken to Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo State for test but unfortunately died on the 29th August, 2018 the same day the hospital in Irrua received the lab result which was confirmed positive to the Lassa virus”, the government statement signed by the State Director of Information, Chief Paul Osahor said.
Although medical findings indicated that it was over 21 days since the victim was presented at the hospital in Umuolu and Kwale and no case has been discovered, however, contact tracing is still ongoing at FMC, Asaba.
The government statement urged residents in the state not to panic, but to report any case of strange fever to the nearest hospital, as the Ministry of Health officials are on top of the situation, doing contact tracing on those who had contact with the victim.
Meanwhile, safety measures were said to be carried out by the relevant health agencies to check the spread, while advising residents in the state to cultivate good personal hygiene, apply environmental fumigation to promote community hygiene and prevent rodents/rats from entering homes and contacting food.
Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever that is caused by the urine and faeces of a specie of rat when they get in contact with food, water and human wounds with their faeces and urine. Infected persons spread the disease when their body fluids such as blood, faeces, urine, sperm and vomit come in contact with others.
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