Gombe announces Lassa fever outbreak 

Rebecca Mu’azu, Gombe 

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The Gombe State Government has announced the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

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The Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, said during a briefing with journalists that the patient, who was a 25-year-old man, had for two weeks travelled to Adamawa State,  where he was suspected to have contracted the infection.

Dr. Dahiru said it was after his return that he started exhibiting symptoms of high body temperature and was admitted at a clinics, before he was later referred to Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, where he was tested and confirmed positive of Lassa Fever.

“When the person was confirmed positive, he was moved to an isolated ward for treatment,” Dr. Dahiru said.

He further said that samples of 15 people, who had contact with him, had been taken to a laboratory for testing.

The Gombe State Commissioner of Health said the Incident Management Team of the state ministry had been activated to go round the state searching for active cases.

He urged the residents of the state to maintain proper hygiene and sanitation to curtail the spread of the disease.

Dr. Dahiru also called on the public to report any fever case to the nearest hospital and avoid self-medication.

 

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