Just In: Gombe Uncovers Index Lassa Fever Case
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
A thirty-three-year old woman, name withheld has been treated of Lassa Fever in Gombe State.
Briefing Journalists shortly after the 28th Executive meeting presided by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, at the Council Chamber held in Government House, Commissioner for Health Dr Habu Dahiru, said the woman recovered after receiving Lassa Fever treatment.
Dahiru disclosed that the travel history of the patient indicated Taraba State, adding that she recently returned after spending the yuletide.
According to him, her initial treatment defied medications, before caregivers took her samples and she was said to have tested positive, adding that she was thereafter isolated with requisite medical aide.
He explained, “The index case is from Kunna in Shamaki ward Gombe Local Government Area. The case in question travelled during Christmas break to Taraba State precisely Wukari and on her return started running temperature. She was admitted at Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, investigation revealed that she is positive for Lassa one case of Lassa Fever is an outbreak.
“Immediately on receipt of the laboratory confirmation, she was placed on isolation and drugs have been positioned in the isolation room and she has recovered with that we convened the Emergency Operations Centre and activated the Incident Management System where response to Lassa Fever was put in place.”
Dahiru noted that they had commenced efforts towards tracing those she had come in contact with, stressing that rapid response had since been activated.
He urged residents to maintain hygienic environment, to ward off the transmitting rodents, cautioning that food should be kept in air tight containers to avoid Lassa Fever.
“Immediately we started line-listing her contact for monitoring and activated the rapid response team in all the Local Government Areas. We positioned required drugs and medicaments in the three isolation centres across the three senatorial zones for Lassa Fever. We continued sensitisation to create awareness on the modes of transmission,” the commissioner added.
