24 People Placed Under Surveillance as Lassa Fever Kills 3 People in Delta
At least 24 people have been placed under surveillance after Lassa fever reportedly killed 3 people in Delta State.
The Delta State Government has placed about 24 persons under surveillance while three other persons have died from the dreaded Lassa fever since the latest outbreak of the disease was first reported in the state on January 26, 2018.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, who made this known in Asaba at the weekend, disclosed that two out of the three fatal cases of the disease were brought to the hospital in Asaba from the neighboring Anambra State.
The health commissioner further revealed that Delta State has recorded seven confirmed cases while 24 persons have been placed under medical surveillance.
Some of the cases were referred from Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba to Institute of Lassa Fever in Irrua, Edo State, he said, adding that the first patient had been treated and discharged.
While noting that active case search and contact tracing was ongoing, the commissioner advised members of the public not to panic but to report any suspected cases to the appropriate health authorities.
“As an immediate response to the outbreak, the Ministry of Health, through its rapid response team, has been coordinating the state response to contain the spread of the disease, just as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Abuja, has been contacted and presently collaborating with the state in this regard,” he said.
