Lassa Fever: FCT records two cases as gov’t raises alarm over resurgence

By Stanley Onyekwere

Following two confirmed cases of Lassa Fever in Abuja, the nation’s capital city, relevant authorities under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have raised   alarm over its resurgence in territory.

Making this disclosure yesterday in Abuja, the FCTA’s Secretary,  Health and Environmental Services Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, said there was no mortality from the two cases that were established, after an alert of Lassa Fever her Secretariat received  from a clinician in Bwari General Hospital.

Fasawe  stated that investigations that were immediately initiated, revealed the cases, children of 14 months and 13 years old respectively, who had contacts of their mother in Bauchi and became at high risk.

She added that  after their mother died of Lassa Fever in Bauchi, their father brought them back to Abuja, where the 14 months tested positive, while the 13 years old was negative.

“It was also revealed that the second positive case was reported by clinicians at the Abuja University Teaching Hospital,  and is currently receiving care.”

She however, warned residents to desist from exposing their foods to the reach of rats, and to also cultivate the habit of reporting strange symptoms to the nearest health centres.

According: “On the 15th of January, 2024, the FCT Public Health Department received an alert of Lassa Fever from a Clinician in Bwari General hospital ( BGH). A rapid response team was mobilised to investigate the cases.

“ Investigation revealed that they were Hugh risk contacts of their mother. Samples were collected and sent to the National Reference Lab for confirmation.

“ The mother was a confirmed case, diagnosed at the Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital,  Bauchi.

“ Following her demise,  the father travelled on the 9th of January,  2024 to Bauchi to bring back the children who had accompanied their mother to Bauchi and returned to the FCT on the 12th of January, 2024.

“ The PHD investigated them and daily monitored them for symptoms.  The results came back position the 14 months old and negative for the 13 year old.”