Gbenga Odogun
The Kogi State Government has said no outbreak of Lassa fever was recorded in the 21 local governments of the state.
Reacting to a viral of an alleged Lassa fever outbreak in the state, on Tuesday, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Abdulazeez Adeiza, revealed that a student who was admitted to the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja did not die of Lassa fever.
He said, “The social media had reported that the student died of hemorrhagic fever and that people who came in contact with him had been isolated.”
According to him, the student presented with fever and bleeding from the gum and was being investigated and managed, while samples were taken and sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja.
He, however, said unfortunately, before the result, which came out negative for Lassa fever was released, the student died.
“The suspected case turned out to be negative for Lassa fever. It is not only Lassa fever that can make a patient present bleeding from the gum. Other reasons could include blood dyscrasias and bleeding disorders.”
The commissioner advised members of the public to disregard the report as no case of Lassa fever has been reported so far.
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