Nigerian authorities have confirmed four deaths in the latest cases of Lassa fever, a disease transmitted by rodents, in Nasarawa State.
Daniel Iya, commissioner for health in Nasarawa State, has told reporters that three people died last weekend, following the death in the index case of the current spread of the disease.
Iya said the three victims were discovered to be relatives of the index case patient.
Health authorities are following up on 36 people who had contact with the dead victims, while a rapid response team has been raised to step up sensitization updates for health workers to check the spread of the disease.
The Nigerian government has mandated the National Center for Disease Control to investigate, prevent and control the possible outbreak of the disease.
Lassa fever is usually transmitted to humans when they are exposed to food or water contaminated by the saliva and excreta of infected rats. In some cases, Lassa fever has similar symptoms with malaria.
Altogether, six people have died due to the spread of Lassa fever in central Nigeria and the country’s southwest region since November.
Last month, a senior health practitioner and a mortuary attendant at the Federal Medical Center in Abeokuta, capital of the southwestern state of Ogun, died of the same disease.
More than 80 people were killed by a Lassa fever outbreak early last year in Nigeria. Enditem
Source: Xinhua/NewsGhana.com.gh
