Today, Sunday, 19th May, 2019, the Kebbi Government confirmed six cases, with one death, of Lassa Fever in the Northern state. Out of the six cases, the dreaded fever has sadly claimed one life.

Dr. Assad Hassan, an epidemiologist at the Kebbi State Ministry of Health, informed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi, that it is on record that the six cases occurred between February and April of this year.

The doctor told NAN that two were from Bunza Local Governmment Area (LGA), while the four of the victims were from Birnin Kebbi.

He said that:

The persons confirmed to be infected with the disease are between 23 to 65 years, and they include four males and two females.

It was confirmed that within hours of being admitted at the Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kebbi, one of the two female patients gave up the ghost. And the blood sample taken from the deceased tested positive to Lassa fever.

The medical doctor that attended to the deceased was also infected with the fever but has been treated and discharged from hospital.

Dr. Hassan refuted earlier rumours that two children, as a result of the fever, had died last week. He went further to explain that the last Lassa fever case confirmed in the state was on April 27, 2019.

He said:

In response to the outbreak, there has been continuous sensitisation of health care workers on Lassa Fever detection and infection, prevention and control measures within the hospital setting.

“Similarly, advocacy, social mobilisation and community engagement has been carried out in all the 21 LGAs of the state.

The Kebbi Ministry of Health has advised communities to keep food and drinking water out of reach of rodents, specifically in rodent-proof containers. It also encourages families to quickly spot and immediately bring sick family members to the hospital for treatment.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.