By Sarah NEGEDU
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has confirmed the resurgence of Lassa Fever in Bwari Area Council, as two cases of the disease has been recorded in the council.
Secretary, Health and Environmental Services Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, who confirmed this on Monday, her Secretariat received an alert of Lassa fever from a clinician in Bwari General Hospital.
Fasawe, while assuring that no mortality was recorded, revealed that the first case was discovered in a 14 months old child who had contacts with the mother in Bauchi and became at high risk.
According to her, two children, aged 14 months and 13 years old, were brought into Abuja after their mother died of Lassa Fever in Bauchi. She said while the 14 months tested positive to the disease, 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 further 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.
“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 high 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 positive for the 14 months old and negative for the 13 year old”.
