Suspected Lassa Fever Victim Dies In Abuja

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Saturday, January 16th, 2016

By Abdul Gaffar Bello

Another suspected Lassa fever victim has died Friday at the State House Clinic (SHC) in Abuja.

The victim, who came from Kaduna, has been ill for the past two weeks, was reportedly rushed to the clinic, but later breathe his last. Among of the complications he developed before he died were bleeding from the mouth and ears.

Report of the death reached the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, Friday evening who visited the Clinic to address staffers on the effective management of the deadly disease.

Following the sad development, the Heath Minister has since directed that the blood specimen should be taken from the victim. The sample was after taken to the Reference Laboratory at Asokoro.

Professor Adewole promised that the ministry expected the result of the test Saturday, noting that the official confirmation wether the victim died due to Lassa fever or not is not yet made.

It is suspected that the disease might claim more victims in the next three months due to rapid procreation rate of vector, multimammate rats, a source told our Correspondent in the clinic.

Meanwhile, Health Minister has called on Nigerians to remain calm despite the reported cases of Lassa fever death in Abuja, Lagos and Rivers State.

Professor Adewole advised members of the public to make them themselves available for test, whenever they experience any strange symptoms or anyone similar in their body to the disease.