BSUTH Isolates Patient on HWN LASSA FEVER UPDATE

The Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) Makurdi has isolated a patient with symptoms of Lassa fever, LEADERSHIP Sunday has gathered.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Orkurga Malu who spoke to journalists by telephone yesterday, said the hospital had received a case suspected to be Lassa fever but were yet to confirm it.

This is coming just as the Benue State Government has assured that it has employed proactive health measures to prevent the epidemic and urged the agrarian people not to panic over the outbreak of the killer disease in the neighbouring Nassarawa and Taraba states.

Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Cecilia Ojabo gave the assurance in Makurdi yesterday and said the state government has already set up a Rapid Response Team for the prevention of Lassa Fever in the state.

According to Ojabo, the fever is contagious and can be contracted through contaminated water and food by droppings of infected rats and persons.

However, CMD of BSUTH, Malu further insisted that the teaching hospital was on the watch out following the recent outbreak of the disease in some affected states of the country.

Speaking on the condition of the quarantined patient, Malu further said the blood sample of the suspected patient was taken to a laboratory outside the state to confirm the actuality of the infectious disease.

He said the hospital has also constituted an emergency team to handle any outbreak.

Source: Leadership, HWN Africa.