By Jennifer Y Omiloli
The Government of Abia State has announced the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state’s Olokoro town, Umuahia South Local Government, resulting in the death of a 28-year-old man.
Chief Egbulefu Eze, Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, declared the outbreak at a news conference on Tuesday and allayed fears of possible epidemics.
The victim died on January 1, 2020 at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia where he was taken to.
The cause of death was known after investigations.
“I want to report about an outbreak of lassa fever at Olokoro in Abia State,” he said, adding that it was the fourth time Abia has witnessed an Lassa fever outbreak since 1999.
However, he said that government had always contained the previous outbreaks and was already on top of the situation this time around.
“There’s no cause for alarm; government is on top of the situation,” he assured the people.
The permanent secretary said that disease surveillance officers of the ministry have already held meetings with the state office of World Health Organisation (WHO) to strategize on further action to checkmate the disease.
Corroborating the Ministry of Health, the Medical Director of FMC Umuahia, Dr Azubuike Onyebuchi, told journalists that the patient was initially suspected to be suffering from acute appendicitis and was taken to the theatre.
He said that it was on further examination that a case of Lassa fever was established, hence the hospital theatre was shut down and all personnel that came into contact with the victim have been placed on 21 days surveillance.
The Chairman of Medical Advisory Council (CMAC), Dr. Ugochukwu Onyeonoro, said that the hospital has been “decontaminated (and) contacts thought to be on high risk level placed on observation”
