20 quarantined as Lassa fever resurfaces in Borno

The acute viral haemorrhagic illness generally know as Lassa fever has reared its ugly head again in Borno State.

It is transmitted to humans via consumption or contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent’s urine or feaces

According to the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Haruna Mshelia while briefing newsmen, a 32-year-old female (name withheld), a resident of Zabarmari village in Jere Local Government Area of the state, had been diagnosed of the disease while 20 others were quarantined in order to curtail the spread of the disease.

Revealing more about the outbreak, Mshelia disclosed that the patient became ill last week and was admitted at a government hospital in Maiduguri, where a sample of her blood was taken to Lagos for test.

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“The result of the test has been released and it shows that the patient tested positive to Lassa fever. However, the patient is responding to treatment,” he said.

Mshelia also informed that the ministry had summoned stakeholders including traditional rulers to a meeting to sensitise them and the public on the need to ensure proper sanitation and avoid eating rodents, especially rats.

He also added that the 20 people who were identified to have had contact with the patient in Zabarmari, an outskirts of Maiduguri metropolis have been quarantined and will be visited by personnel of the ministry.

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