Lassa Fever Kills 9 In Benue

Nine persons including a 13-year-old girl have died out of the 39 confirmed cases of Lasser Fever in Benue State.
The commissioner for health and human services, Dr Yanmar Ortese, who disclosed this in a chat with our correspondent yesterday in Makurdi said the state government was making arrangements for burial of the victims.

Chief medical director of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi (BSUTH), Dr. Stephen Hwande who also confirmed the outbreak during an interaction with newsmen said the confirmed cases were among the 10 suspected persons that were referred to the hospital from the Federal University of Health Science, Otukpo, Nigerian Airforce Hospital, Federal Medical Centre Makurdi and some private hospitals.

Dr. Hwande said the hospital had secured a grant from the state government, part of which would be used to upgrade facilities at the isolation center of the hospital to enable it effectively manage Lassa Fever and other infectious diseases.

He appealed to people with symptoms of Lassa Fever not to delay in reporting to the hospital for proper checks, adding that prevention drugs were also available at the institution.
State Focal Person, Infection Prevention and Control, IPC, Professor Audu Onyemocho who said Lassa fever can be contacted from infected rats or persons, listed some of its symptoms to include having temperature above 38 degrees, weakness of the body, sore throat, vomiting, acute kidney injury and bloody urine.

Prof.Onyemocho advised the people against drying cassava chips and garri on the roads while foodstuff should be covered properly in addition to blocking rats’ access in houses to prevent them from having contact with food.