LASSA FEVER: 1 dies, 26 under surveillance in Jigawa

DUTSE—Jigawa State Government has confirmed the death of one person as a result of Lassa fever outbreak and 26 others persons who had contact with the decease were at present under surveillance.Confirming the development, Commissioner of Health, Dr Abba Zakar, said the victim who resided at Gujubaki village in Dutse Local Government area of the state had just returned from Port Harcourt in Rivers State and reported to Dutse General Hospital with signs
and symptoms suggestive to Lassa fever.

The commissioner explained that immediately the hospital management noticed the case, it contacted the state ministry of health.

According to him, the ministry immediately sent its Rapid Response Team, RRT, which consisted three Doctors, Disease Notification Officers, DNOs, and an Epidemiologist to examine the victim and take sample of his blood.

He said , the blood sample was taken to a laboratory in Abuja where it was confirmed positive, lamenting that the victim died later in the same day he reported to the hospital.

The commissioner said: “Unfortunately, about a week ago, that was exactly on January 25, an 18 year old Safiyanu Usaini, from Gujubaki village in Dutse town, who had travelled to one of the infected states, specially Port Harcourt, reported to Dutse General Hospital”.

Dr. Zakari pointed out that 26 persons were traced to have had contact with him before he died, said the contacts were now put under surveillance by the ministry and we will make a follow up every after three days.

Zakar however noted that the state government had taken proactive measures before the discovery of the disease in the state.