Lassa fever spreads to Delta, Ekiti States

Lassa fever has spread to Delta and Ekiti States.
This development was confirmed on Monday following the report of a case in Asaba, the Delta State capital, and another in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
The victim in Delta State is a 65-year-old woman from Ifiogwari village, Ayamelunu, Anambra State.
She was said to have come for treatment in Asaba.
She was first admitted at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
She was then referred to Federal Medical Centre, Asaba when her condition got worse.
The case was confirmed at the Specialist Hospital in Irrua, Edo State.
Two other samples sent to the same laboratory for confirmation came back negative.
The Delta State Rapid Response Team on Lassa fever said 22 persons who had contact with the confirmed case have been placed on surveillance, while five samples have been sent for laboratory investigation.
The State Government has informed the Federal Ministry of Health of the development.
In Ekiti State, the index case was confirmed on Monday by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olurotimi Ojo.
The patient is currently on admission at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti.
The patient was said to have tested positive to Lassa fever on Saturday.
Ojo said in Ado Ekiti, the state capital: “Over the weekend, the state confirmed a case of Lassa fever that is being managed at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti. The patient is stable and had commenced treatment.
“Immediately the patient was diagnosed and confirmed, the management began the process of contact tracing. Once you have an index case, there is tendency of having a primary case and possible spread and this could be dangerous.”
Ojo said the case is being properly handled by doctors.
He said the state Governor, Ayodele Fayose, had, long before now, approved an isolation ward at the Oba Adejugbe General Hospital in Ado Ekiti as a proactive step in the event that the disease spreads to the state.