SAN FRANCISCO, January 18, (THEWILL) – The Rivers ministry of health has confirmed a case of Lassa fever in a private health facility in the state.
This was disclosed in Port Harcourt by the Commissioner for health, Theophilus Odagme, who revealed that the patient had fully recovered and had been discharged.
He said the ministry was collaborating with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the private hospital and family of patient to ensure that the process of decontamination of contacts is effectively carried out.
He advised people in the state not to panic as according to him, the state ministry of health is on top of the situation but urged them to report all cases of persistent high fever and bleeding to the nearest health facility.
“We had a case of Lassa Fever that has been managed by our experts. The incident was discovered in a Private Hospital here in Port Harcourt,” he said.
“The victim showed serious signs of Lassa so we conducted a test and confirmed he was infected.
“The patient was diagnosed and expertly managed and has been discharged.
“We have identified the primary and secondary contacts and we are following them up. We have also identified them and the other processes of decontamination are all on.
“If there is need, we will transfer any identifiable patient to our emergency centre at Oduoha in Emohua.
“Right now, we pray it does not pose further threat to the state.
“Our message remains constant. People should not expose their consumables to rats or rodents. We don’t want these incidents that is why we have kept on with our enlightenment campaigns that keep everything away from rats.
“There is no cause for alarm because we are on top of the situation.”
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