Fear Grips Anambra Residents as Lassa Fever Kills Medical Doctor

 

A medical doctor has been confirmed dead in Anambra State following a fresh outbreak of Lassa fever.

 

This latest development has sent residents of the state into palpable fear.

 

According to Daily Post, the State Ministry of Health Thursday made this announcement in Awka during a one-day Lassa fever training workshop.

 

Speaking at the workshop, one of the resource persons, Dr. Jane Ezeonu confirmed that the medical doctor died at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, three days ago.

 

The Director of Public Health in the state, Dr Emmanuel Okafor, who also spoke at the event confirmed that the state had equally recorded three other deaths recently.

 

She warned the people of the state to avoid taking raw garri, adding that they should protect their food and related items from rats.

 

According to him, “In Anambra State, we don’t know the number of cases of the disease, but we have three confirmed deaths”

 

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

 

In his speech, the permanent secretary in the state ministry of health, Dr Okwuchukwu Chukwuka insisted that there was no such epidemic in the state.

 

He represented the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Josephat Akabuike on the training workshop.

 

He said “It is a training workshop for health professionals in the 21 local government areas of the state who would sensitize and disseminate information about Lassa fever to the grassroots.

“We are having the workshop for prevention, not that we have an epidemic in the state,” the permanent secretary said.