Doctor killed in fresh outbreak of Lassa fever in Anambra

A medical doctor, and two other persons, have died of Lassa fever in Anambra state.

Emmanuel Okafor, director of public health in the state ministry of health, disclosed this during a one-day workshop on Lassa fever.

The workshop was organised to sensitise health professionals in the state on the disease.

Okafor said the outbreak was not yet at an epidemic proportion in the state.

He said the workshop was aimed at training the health professionals, who would go to the grassroots to educate the people on the prevention of the disease.

“In Anambra, we don’t know the number of cases of the disease but we have three confirmed deaths,” he said.

He urged health workers to exercise high standard of professionalism in handling Lassa fever cases.

Okafor said the state government had put in place measures to handle the scourge.

Jane Ezeonu, a resource person at the workshop, said the medical doctor died at the Nnamdi Azikiwe General Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, three days ago.

She said the late medical doctor was referred to NAUTH from Asaba, Delta state.

Ezeonu warned people against drinking garri (cassava flour), advising residents to ensure protection of their food and related items from rats.

“People don’t acquire immunity after suffering from Lassa fever. General hygiene is the key for prevention,” Ezeonu said.

Okwuchukwu Chukwuka, permanent secretary in the ministry, said there was no epidemic of the disease in the state.

Chukwuka, who represented Josephat Akabuike, the commissioner for health, said the workshop was part of the proactive measures adopted by the government.

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

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