Army takes measures against Lassa fever as soldier dies in Jos cantonment

The Nigerian army has announced that one of its senior officers attached to the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment in Jos, Plateau state, may have died of Lassa fever.

In a statement on Thursday, Ikechukwu Eze, acting deputy director, army public relations, said the division has taken measures to avoid the spread of the disease in the cantonment.

He noted that Nuhu Angbazo, the general officer commanding 3 division, has directed that the cantonment be fumigated.

The acting deputy director said the late soldier was admitted and being managed for resistant malaria at the 3 Div hospital after returning from Kogi state where he went for his father’s burial. But with no significant improvement, he died on Tuesday.

He said investigations have commenced to unravel the circumstances that led to the soldier’s death.

“Contact tracing and monitoring for both primary and secondary contacts has commenced,” the statement read.

“This is being done in collaboration with representatives of World Health Organization, medical personnel of Bingham University Teaching Hospital and 3 Division Medical Services and Hospital.

“Sensitization for residents of Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, the host community and the general public has also commenced.

“Available medical information confirmed that the soldier may have died of Lassa Fever.”