Suspected Lassa fever has k!lled four persons, including two pregnant women, in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.Entertainment center

 

 

 

Investigation on Wednesday, January 7, 2025 revealed that following the development, the General Hospital in Awe was shut down, while health workers, including the Medical Superintendent, were placed in isolation.

 

 

 

The Disease Surveillance Officer in the area, Ahmad Abdullahi, who confirmed the development said concern heightened when a woman was brought to a health facility in Awe with symptoms suspected to be Lassa fever and d!ed shortly before receiving medical attention.

 

 

 

According to him, the woman’s husband also d!ed after presenting similar symptoms.

 

 

 

Abdullahi identified poor handling of suspected cases as a major challenge in managing disease outbreaks, adding that some suspected patients referred to Lafia for isolation reportedly escaped.

 

 

 

 

“None of the disease surveillance officers across the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa State has been provided with motorcycles by the government, which is affecting prompt response to remote areas,” he said.

 

 

 

“The state government sent an ambulance to Awe to convey six suspected cases for isolation in Lafia, but they were allowed to escape even before the laboratory test results were released.”

 

 

 

Also speaking, a nurse at the General Hospital, Awe, Ovey Polycarp, called for the urgent provision of protective kits for health workers to curb the spread of the disease.

 

 

 

“The two women were brought to the hospital almost at the same time with symptoms resembling malaria, but their conditions deteriorated to bleeding and haemorrhage, which led to their deaths. We are living in fear because we do not have protective equipment to manage the outbreak,” she said.

 

 

 

Reacting, the Director of Public Health at the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, Dr Peter Attah, said only one confirmed case of Lassa fever had been recorded in Awe LGA, adding that the patient died before the laboratory result was released.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, fumigation is ongoing at the General Hospital in Awe to prevent the spread of the disease to surrounding communities.