Lassa fever: One dead, another hospitalised in Kogi

Man confirmed to have contacted Lassa fever in Kogi State was reported dead and the other victim that had been diagnosed and confirmed to be suffering from the disease was receiving treatment at the Irua Specialist Hospital, Edo State.
It was gathered that the dead victim, a 70-year-old man, from Okene, Okene Local Government Area of the state, was hospitalised at a private hospital in Okene.
However, he was said to have been referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, when he was showing symptoms of Lassa fever. But because there was no equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease in the state, he had to be taken to the Irua Specialist Hospital wherein he was diagnosed and confirmed to have contacted the disease.
The victim was said to have died before the result of the test was released.
It was also gathered that the other victim from Idah Local Government Area of the state was still receiving treatment at the Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State.
The acting permanent secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr Bello Henry, said government had also embarked on sensitisation programmes to curtail the spread of the disease.
He also said the state had provided personal protective equipment for the health providers who might have had contact with the victims.
Reacting to the development, the chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, Kogi State chapter, Dr Austin Ojotule, said the association had also embarked on a sensitisation programme in the rural areas.
He advised people against exposing their food items to rodents in order to prevent them from contacting the disease.