Lassa fever kills doctor, three others in Anambra

A medical doctor and three others have reportedly died of Lassa fever in Anambra state.

This was disclosed in a one-day Lassa fever training workshop organized by the state Ministry of Health.

A resource person in the workshop, Dr Jane Ezeonu confirmed that the medical doctor died at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, on Tuesday.

The director of Public Health in the state, Dr Emmanuel Okafor, said the state recorded the death of three others, recently.

Ezeonu said the late doctor was referred to NAUTH from Asaba, Delta state. She warned the people of the state to stop drinking raw garri, adding that they should protect their food and related items from rats.

She explained that people don’t acquire immunity after suffering from Lassa fever, as believed in some quarters.

Ezeonu said general hygiene was important in Lassa fever prevention.

Dr Okafor said the essence of the workshop was to train professionals who would go to the grassroots to educate the people on the prevention of the disease.

He said “In Anambra we don’t know the number of cases of the disease but we have three confirmed deaths.

He called on health workers in the state to exercise high standard in handling Lassa fever cases.

Okafor said the state government had put proactive measures to handle the scourge.
“We are having the workshop for prevention, not that we have an epidemic in the state, Chukwuka said.