One dies in fresh Lassa fever case in Kano

THE Kano State Ministry of Health has confirmed the death of another victim of Lassa fever in the state. This makes the total casualty of the infectious disease to be three in the last three months.

The first case of Lassa fever, which killed two persons, a man and his son at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano, was recorded early December 2015.

Director of Public Health Care, Ministry of Health, Dr. Tijjani Husaini, who confirmed the latest development to The Guardian in a telephone interview stated that the victim was certified dead at the isolation centre at Dawakin Kudu, about 35 kilometers from the state capital.

Dr. Tijjani, who declined to declare the identity, posited that the victim was brought to the centre specifically established for Lassa fever treatment.

According to him: “The victim died last week Thursday at the centre. The death brought the total casualty of Lassa fever to three. We recorded two cases last year and this is the third case. Like I told you, he was brought to the centre after four days of clinical monitoring.”

Tijjani hinted that efforts are presently being made to track the contact of the victim as required, to prevent further spread.

He said out of over 500 persons who had contact with the two previous victims about 300 had already completed their incubation period. He confirmed that 201 of them are still under watch.

Commissioner for Health Dr. Ibrahim Getso, earlier told journalists that the state government has provided ambulances, equipment and drugs to the isolation centre and at all the 37 general hospitals in the state including Amini Kano Teaching Hospital in its determination to manage Lassa fever outbreak.

Also, he said community sensitisation campaigns have been intensified to create awareness on the disease.