Second Lassa fever victim died in Ebonyi

Another Lassa fever victim has been confirmed death in Ebonyi bring the number of death so far recorded since the outbreak of the disease to two. This announcement was made by the state commissioner of health, Dr Daniel Umezurike, on Monday, February 29, while briefing reporters in Abakaliki. The disease claimed the life of a 10-year-old boy.

The commissioner explained that the deceased died at the weekend after being discharged from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Vanguard reports. Dr. Umezurike said: “The incident is unfortunate. The deceased was a pupil of one of the primary schools in Igbeagu, Izzi Local Government Area. 

“The bereaved parents are based in Abuja but the reports indicate that he travelled to meet his parents recently.” He pointed out that the deceased was not taken to the hospital immediately he fell sick, which made his condition critical. “He, however, responded to treatment in the hospital which made the authorities to discharge him, but he unfortunately died the day he was discharged. “The hospital certified him fit after treatment but before he was discharged, we had already taken his test sample to the relevant quarters where the result read positive,” the commissioner said.

He further stressed that the ministry had embarked on surveillance and contact-tracing of close associates to curtail its spread saying “We have also intensified our enlightenment campaign among the citizens on ways to prevent the disease and immediate report of suspected cases to relevant authorities”. The first victim disease in the state was a student of the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, who died in January.