Lassa Fever Outbreak: Lassa Virus strikes Borno

Borno State Commissioner of Health, Haruna Mshelia, has revealed that onesuspected case of Lassa fever had been reported in the state.

Speaking with newsmen in the Maiduguri, Mshelia disclosed that the case was reported in Zabarmari community of Jere local government area of the state.

Mshelia said the patient was at first quarantined but later discharged after medical examinations.

“The patient was discharged after medical examination certified him free of Lassa fever infection. It is medically proven that the case was not Lassa fever as earlier suspected,” he said.

He added that the state government had also increased surveillance to contain the spread pandemic diseases in prone area.

Mshelia emphasised that River Blindness and cholera diseases were more prevalent during the rainy season, adding that proactive measures had been put in place to control the disease.

“Assorted drugs are distributed to endemic areas. State preparedness for endemic disease such as cholera is in place,” he said.

The commissioner included that the state government in association with development partners was providing free treatment to leprosy and tuberculosis patients.

He added further that more than 2. 7 million mosquito-treated nets were also distributed to households while 888, 905 doses of malarial drugs were distributed to children under five years of age in the state.

Meanwhile, recent cases of Lassa Fever have also been discovered in the capital of Plateau State and Lagos State.