Lassa Fever: No Cause For Alarm In Rivers – Perm Sec

The Acting Permanent
Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Chinwe Atata, has assured that the ministry has taken all precautionary measures to ensure that the State does not witness lassa fever outbreak.
In a release made available to The Tide, Dr Atata stated that towards this end rumours of four persons who were said to have contacted the virus was promptly addressed and further measures taken to prevent lassa fever in the State.
“In the last few days we’ve received four reports of suspected cases of lassa fever in Rivers State. All these cases have received prompt and adequate attention.
“Two rumours have been investigated and discarded. Two samples have been collected and sent to the national reference laboratories for virology.  All two cases are still suspected, unconfirmed and results are being awaited.
“However, the state was notified of a resident of Rivers State who was diagnosed in Edo State as a case of lassa fever last Wednesday. Incidentally, the patient passed on at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital the same day.
“Investigations are ongoing at Edo  State. Together with the management of the hospital, the family and NCDC are working assiduously to ensure public health safety in the exposed clusters, especially among health care personnel and the first responders”, the release stated.
It further stated that presently, fifty seven persons have so far been placed under surveillance.
“We are working in partnership with state, federal agencies and all stakeholders in the interest of public health security. There is therefore no cause for alarm as the situation as recorded is firmly under control”, the statement continued.
While assuring that the ministry has in stock necessary health commodities to contain the virus, the statement called on the public to continue all necessary preventive measures in the circumstance, noting that prevention is better than cure.

Sogbeba Dokubo