First Lassa Fever Death Recorded in Abuja

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A 33-year-old man who came to Abuja on a visit from Jos, Plateau State, has died from the deadly Lassa fever disease which recently broke out in the country. This is the first case to be recorded in the Federal capital.

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, confirmed the report at the National Hospital, Abuja, where the victim died, last night, calling on health workers to be more vigilant and look out for patients displaying symptoms of the disease. These include high fever for more than two days, vomiting, bleeding from the nose, mouth and anus. Maintaining proper hygiene and ensuring food and food items are properly covered and preserved from rodents minimizes falling prey to the disease.

According to The Sun, the Minister also directed that all primary and secondary contacts of the victim be tracked. These include staff of the private hospital in Kubwa where the deceased was first managed for one week and subsequently became unconscious before his referral to the National Hospital.

The death reportedly brings the total number of deaths from 10 states in the country to 43.