FG warns against hoarding information, patients

The Federal Government on Thursday warned medical and health facilities to stop hoarding information on Lassa fever to curb further spread of the disease.

The government also warned medical and health workers against shielding victims of the disease or treating them of other ailments other than Lassa fever in quest for money.

Besides, the government advised relatives of persons who contacted the disease and affected communities to report suspicious signs to health authorities for prompt action.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, issued the warning and advice while fielding questions from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Lassa fever control measures adopted by the government in Abuja on Thursday.

On the latest case recorded at the National Hospital, Abuja, Adewole confirmed the death of a 33-year-old newly married man from Jos, Plateau.

According to him, the death of the young man brought to 43 the total number of deaths recorded in 10 states and the FCT.

The minister also advised bereaved family members to report at the nearest hospital if anyone has fever for more than two days.

Adewole called on residents of affected states not to panic, but to maintain high level vigilance and present themselves for test if they feel symptoms of Lassa fever.

The minister said he has directed that all primary and secondary contacts of deceased persons and victims of the disease should be tracked.

He assured that medical and health personnel who had contacts with victims of the disease would be also established. The minister added all fatal cases of Lassa fever would be investigated by a committee with the aim of sanctioning erring medical and health personnel as well as facilities.

"The outcome of the investigation will also enable us to take more proactive measures to curb the disease from further spread,’’ said Adewole.

Meanwhile, the Medical Director, National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Jack Momoh, has explained that the deceased was brought to the hospital while he was unconscious from a private hospital in Kubwa, FCT.

He said the deceased had lived in Jos and came to see a family member in Kubwa because of his (young man) illness.

"He was admitted for eight days at the private clinic in Kubwa, but he died within 24 hours of presentation at the National Hospital,’’ Momoh told NAN.

NAN recalls that the federal government on Jan. 12 confirmed that Lassa fever has claimed 41 lives from 93 reported cases in 10 states of the country.

The first case of the current outbreak was reported from Bauchi in November 2015, after the case recorded at Fuka, Niger, in August of same year.

Other affected states are Plateau, Taraba, Edo, Oyo, Rivers, Kano, Gombe and Nasarawa and the FCT.