BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI
An outbreak of Lassa Fever case has been recorded from a 32 year old female (Name withheld) who resides in Zabarmari village of Jere Local Government Area of Borno state.
Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of 2-21 days duration that occurs and is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.
Briefing Journalists, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia said, the victim fell sick last week, and was admitted at a government hospital in Maiduguri, where a sample of her blood was taken to Lagos for test, after which result showed positive to the virus.
Dr. Mshelia said, that though the situation is under control, as the victim is responding to treatment, the ministry had to summon all stakeholders including traditional rulers to sensitize the public on the need to ensure proper sanitation and avoid eating of rodents, especially rats.
He noted that already, the ministry has also mobilized its personnel who visited Zabarmari, on the outskirts of Maiduguri metropolis and identified over 20 people who had contact with the victim, stressing that those suspected to have had personal contact with her have been quarantined.
He stressed that, the ministry will soon embark on house -to- house fumigation, adding that, there is no cause for alarm.
