Lassa Fever kills one in Enugu

A 75-year old woman has reportedly died of Lassa Fever in Enugu. 
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health Dr. Ifeanyi Agujiobi, disclosed this in a statement.
He said that  the case was presented to ESUTH-Parklane about 10 days ago with some symptoms akin to malaria.
According to the statement , “She didn’t visit neighboring state where such case exits. However 3 days ago, she started vomiting blood and the high index of suspicion came.
“Sample was taken to Virology centre at Abakaliki Ebonyi state and it was confirmed to be positive of Lassa Fever.
“Unfortunately the patient died yesterday.
“The State Ministry of Health, Public Head Department with the ESUTH Parklane management had stepped up action to decontaminate all sections of the hospital that the patient was managed including the ICU unit.
“Contact tracing is ongoing and there will be sensitization of all health care workers at the ESUTH Parklane tomorrow so that any health worker that perhaps came in contact with the deceased will be monitored and some possibly placed on prophylactic Ribavarine therapy.
“They will be followed up by the State Epidemiological team. The statement said that  the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had been contacted and they were making every arrangement to send in some health commodities to support the State Ministry of Health who has already dispatched a lot of prophylactic and PPE materials.
“Arrangement is being made to bury safely the corpse immediately because of the public health implications.
“We advice all persons to observe universal health precautions especially washing of hands with soaps at all times, avoid eating rats or the likes as well as avoiding drinking raw garri because of the vector that transmit the disease – a specie of rat.
This Lassa Fever is caused by Lassa Virus- A hemorrhagic viral disease. The disease may be asymptomatic but can present with symptoms mimicking malaria.
“All the same the public are informed not to panic as all hands are on deck to curtail and contain this problem.”