The current outbreak of Lassa Fever has extended to Abuja, the federal capital territory.
According to a confirmation from the federal ministry of health, the outbreak was recorded in the Kubwa area of FCT, with one patient dying at the National Hospital Abuja.
Boade Akinola, director of press and public relations at the ministry, released a statement saying Isaac Adewole, a professor and minister of health, had ordered the tracking of all primary and secondary contacts of the victim.
These include the staff of the private hospital in Kubwa where the deceased was first managed for one week, until he became unconscious, before referral to the national hospital.
He also advised that family members should report at the nearest hospital if anyone has fever for more than two days.
The statement urged Abuja residents not to panic but to maintain high level vigilance and present themselves for test if they feel unhealthy or they feel symptoms of Lassa fever, which includes high fever, stooling, tiredness and vomiting adding that self-medication should be avoided at this period.
Earlier, Jafaru Momoh, medical director of the hospital, briefed the minister during his visit, saying the patient was brought unconscious from a private hospital in Kubwa, where he had been on admission for eight days.
He said the newly married 33- year-old lived in Jos, but came to see a family member in Kubwa because of his illness.
Wednesday’s confirmation brings the total number of Lassa Fever deaths to 41 in 10 states and the federal capital territory.
It also came one day after Adewole expressed joy that there was no new confirmed case of the fever after 72 hours.
NAN
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