Deadly Lassa Fever Outbreak in Lafia

A civil servant working at the Office of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Dameshi Lukas has been reported dead as a result of Lassa fever infection in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital.

Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, the Commissioner of Health who confirmed the outbreak to journalists recently in Lafia, said the patient died on Tuesday at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital.

He said the patient was admitted into the hospital last week with symptoms of severe fever with bleeding, which compelled the medical personnel to send his blood specimen to the Lassa fever diagnostic Centre atIrua in Edo state where he was confirmed positive to Lassa infection.

The Commissioner explained that the hospital did its best by secluding and treating him and he was fairly stable until Tuesday when he died.

He added that a blood specimen was also taken from the wife of the deceased and others who had close contact with him for examination and all came out negative.

The Vanguard