The first case of Lassa fever has been confirmed in Lagos state at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). According to the chairman of LUTH, Professor Wasiu Adeyemo, the patient is responding to treatment.
About 472 cases have been confirmed by the NCDC (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control) and 70 deaths so far. States with confirmed cases include Ebonyi, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Abia, Adamawa, Borno, Delta, Benue, Rivers, Kano, Kogi, Enugu, Kaduna, Ogun, Cross River, Plateau, Nassarawa, Taraba and Lagos.
About 14 health workers in this region have also been among the confirmed cases.
Professor Akin Abayomi, the Commissioner for Health has asked the people to remain calm and not panic because of the outbreak, according to him, the situation would be under control very soon.
He said that the state government was working hand in hand with the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC to find the solution for the problem.
People with a persistent high fever who are not responding to the regular treatment of typhoid and malaria should be suspects for the virus, according to Abayomi.
