There is no lassa fever in Imo – Govt, FMC Owerri
Authorities of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri Imo State have dismissed news making the rounds that the state has recorded a case of Lassa fever following the recent outbreak Abia state.
Imo state government through its Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vin Udokwu also declared the state safe and free of Lassa fever disease.
Rumours had been rife about an outbreak of Lassa fever in the state following the reported death of a man, who, it was learnt bled from body orifices before his reported death at the FMC, fuelling suspicion that he might have died of the virus.
The Medical Director of FMC, Owerri, Dr. Kingsley Achigbu in a telephone interview maintained that there was no recorded or medically confirmed case of Lassa fever in the state.
“The insinuation is false. There is no case or incident of Lassa fever in Imo state. What we had were three suspected patients, all of who we isolated, ran all the relevant tests and the results were all negative. “
“We convincingly established that none of the three patients were Lassa fever infected. So I can tell you without a doubt that there is no case of Lassa fever in Imo state.”
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vin Udokwu confirmed the statement of the FMC Medical Director when he disclosed that the three test cases that were isolated at FMC and comprehensively examined were all negative when tested for Lassa fever.
He however added that the state government was aware of the outbreak of Lassa fever in Abia state and had already commenced awareness campaigns urging citizens to adopt safety measures against the spread of the disease.
He said: “We urge people to be cautious in burning bushes close to the home to avoid forcing rats into the homes. Citizens should also take steps to rid their homes of rats and rodents and be more circumspect in the consumption of bush meats.”
“Every strange illness should be reported to relevant government facilities especially when such ailments come with high fever, body aches, pains, vomiting and bleeding from the body orifices.”
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A statement from the Health Ministry also noted that the disease is caused by Lassa virus carried by rats and transmitted through rat urine and faeces.
“To this end, people are advised to cover their food, both fresh and cooked; eliminate all rats around their environment, maintain clean environment and avoid bush burning”,
