Lassa Fever Kills One In Anambra, Dozens In Surveillance

Lassa Fever has killed one student and 65 others are being monitored in Anambra State, the state government confirmed on Monday.

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Dr Emmanuel Okafor, the Director of Public Health, State Ministry of Health, told newsmen in Awka that the deceased was a nursing student in one private nursing school in Nkpor, Idemili North.

Okafor said that the lady was admitted at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Awka, on June 11, and was transferred to the General Hospital, Irua, in Edo for diagnosis where she died on June 17.

“She was initially admitted at Amaku in Awka before she was transferred to Irua and was placed on admission there,” he said.

“She was bleeding from the gums, nostril and vagina and was confirmed Lassa Fever victim in Irua.

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“The moment it was confirmed that she had Lassa fever, we started contacts tracing.

“As of now, we have about 65 we are following up, two of them have developed fever and their samples have been taken to Irua.

“We are still tracking others and we have advised them on what to do to ensure they do not transfer it to their loved ones.”

The doctor urged locals to always keep their surroundings clean and protect their foods from rats.

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