Borno Records One Death, Three Suspected Cases of Lassa Fever

Borno State Government on Thursday said an outbreak of Lassa fever has claimed the life of a 24-year-old man.

Three other suspected cases are currently under investigation.

Addressing a press conference, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Salisu Kwaya-Bura, who made the disclosure, noted that since the first case of Lassa fever through a German woman in Lassa in 1969, which gave the name of the disease; this is the second outbreak to be recorded in Borno State.

The first outbreak was traced to Lassa, a town in Borno South.

The commissioner said the deceased travelled to Hawul and returned back to Maiduguri before being admitted to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), where the symptoms manifested with sample taken from him showed he was positive.

He said of the three cases under investigation, one is a health official with two other individuals, who are currently being managed in rapid response facility created by the state against the disease.

 

Kwaya-Bura said: “While it is my responsibility to inform the public about the outbreak, I call for calm as the state has put necessary measures to halt the further outbreak."

On the fate of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in the camps over the outbreak, the commissioner explained that the IDPs have no need to worry, as the state has readily prepared for any emergency.

He announced that meetings would take place henceforth from 4p.m. every day for update on tackling the outbreak.