Borno confirms suspected case of Lassa fever

Haruna Mshelia, the Borno commissioner for health, on Thursday said one suspected case of Lassa fever had been reported in the state.

Mshelia told journalists in Maiduguri that the case was reported in Zabarmari community of Jere local government area of the state.

He said that the patient was initially quarantined but discharge after medical examinations.

“The patient was discharged after medical examination certified him free of Lassa fever infection. It is medically proven that the case was not Lassa fever as earlier suspected,” he said.

Mishelia disclosed that the state government had also stepped up surveillance to contain the spread of River Blindness in prone areas.

He said River Blindness and cholera diseases were more prevalent during the rainy season, adding that proactive measures had been put in place to contain the disease.

“Assorted drugs are distributed to endemic areas. State preparedness for endemic disease such as cholera is in place,” he said.

The commissioner added that the state government in collaboration with development partners was providing free treatment to leprosy and tuberculosis patients.

According to him, more than 2. 7 million mosquito-treated nets were also distributed to households while 888, 905 doses of malarial drugs were distributed to children under five years of age in the state.