The first case of Lassa fever has been reported in Ekiti state. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Olurotimi Ojo, who made this known to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, January 18, said the index case which involves a student nurse was confirmed over the weekend.
“Over the weekend, the state confirmed a case of Lassa fever that is being managed at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti.
The patient is stable and had commenced treatment. Immediately the patient was diagnosed and confirmed, the management began the process of contact tracing. Once you have an index case, there is tendency of having a primary case and possible spread and this could be dangerous. The doctors are handling the situation and monitoring it very closely. So, nobody has been quarantined after the contact tracing.” he said. Lassa Fever is transmitted by infected rodents. Over 40 persons have died from the hemorrhagic fever since its outbreak in Nigeria last November. (LIB)
