–Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA) – From Mike Sogbola, Maiduguri:

Four cases of Lassa Fever have been reported in Borno State with one of the patients dead.

Commissioner of Health, Dr Salihu Kwaya-Bura disclosed this at a press conference in Maiduguri on Thursday.

The Commissioner said that three patients with Lassa Fever symptoms and infection were discovered after the death of the first victim, was reported last Saturday.

“Precisely on the 18th January, 2020, we received a patient at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) which had symptoms of Lassa Fever. Unfortunately, we lost the patient,” the commissioner said.

He said the medical team has conducted laboratory investigation after taken some sample and established the presence of Lassa Fever in the patient body system. He said efforts have also been put in place to established all those who had contact with the patient within the period with a view to quarantine them.

He said three more Lassa Fever patients have been isolated. “One of the patients had contacted the first victim in Kano and is infected now,” Kwaya-Bura explained.

He said the government decided to alert members of the public about the presence of Lassa Fever in the state. He urged the people to maintain high level of hygiene in their homes and environment. He appealed to people not to panic as government has put enough measure including free treatment to halt the spread of the infectious disease.

“In case of any contact with any individual having symptoms of Lassa Fever like bleeding in the nose or ear to go to designated hospital in Maiduguri,” he said.

He said the two hospitals: Abba Kyari Memorial Hospital located at Jajeri and another at Zajeri in the state capital. He appealed to medical or health personnel in the hospitals and health centre to exhibit high level of professionalism and caution when handling Lassa Fever cases.
 
Also he said the government has established Emergency Centre with a toll free telephone numbers: 080 099999999 for people to call.