Lassa Fever 'Enters' Abuja, Kills One

Nigeria’s Federal Capital City, Abuja, has recorded its first death to Lassa fever since the latest outbreak in November 2015.

The deadly disease has so far claimed about 41 lives from 93 reported cases in 10 states in Nigeria.

Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that the disease killed a 33-year-old newlywed, who lived in Jos, Plateau State, but travelled to see a family member in Kubwa because of his illness, breathed his last within 24 hours of presentation at the national hospital.

The statement signed by the press director, Boade Akinola, at the health ministry, further said the Minister was briefed of the development by medical director of the hospital, Jack Momoh, who said the late patient was brought unconscious from a private hospital in Kubwa to the hospital.

Adewole then directed all primary and secondary contacts of the victim, including the staff of the private hospital in Kubwa, an Abuja suburb, where the deceased was first managed for one week before referral to National Hospital, be tracked.

He urged residents of the city not to panic but to maintain high level vigilance and present themselves for test if they feel unhealthy or they feel symptoms of Lassa fever, which include high fever, stooling, tiredness, vomiting, etc., adding that self-medication should be avoided at this period.