Zamfara debunks report on Lassa fever outbreak

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

The Zamfara State Government has dismissed report by some national dailies (Peoples Daily excluded) that Lassa fever outbreak hit the state with having two identified cases tested positive.
In a press conference yesterday being part of celebration marking First World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, the State Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed Kanoma said, the samples taken from the suspected cases were tested negative.
“The reports which claimed that, Zamfara State was hit by the Lassa fever outbreak was just baseless, we had received two suspected cases from Zurmi and Maru local government areas but, the medical examination’s conducted by experts had clearly shown the victims were Lassa negative.
“I am heavily therefore, drawing the attention of media practitioners to always verify their reports from the authorities concerned and other relevant bodies before going to press”, the Commissioner has stressed.
On the issues pertaining Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD), Alhaji Kanoma explained that, Zamfara State could not be left alone from the more than 100 million affected people in the recorded cases across Nigeria who are at risk of one or more of the NTD.
“These NTD includes Trachoma (a blinding disease), Onchocerchiasis (river blindness), Lymphatic Filariasis (elephantiasis), Schistosomiasis (bilhazia) and Soil transmitted Helminths (intestinal worms).
“We have confirmed that, the whole 14 local government areas of the State are endemic for Lymphatic Flariasis while 6 local government areas that includes Anka, Bukkuyum, Bungudu, Maru, Tsafe and Zurmi are endemic for Onchocerchiasis.
He further informed that, the State Government has already commenced the payments of 100 million naira being counterparts funding to each of the development partners with a view to ensure health access is simplified to the good people of the State.