Nasarawa State Is Endemic To Lassa Fever-MD FMC, Keffi

Rabiu Omaku

The Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Dr.Joshua Ndom Gyan has confirmed that Nasarawa state is endemic to Lassa Fever

He gave the revelation during a press briefing held at the Correspondents’ Chapel office, Kaura Plaza along Jos road, Lafia.

He appealed to the general public to avoid eating contaminated food.

Dr. Gyan cautioned the public to avoid unnecessary bush as well avoid breeding ground for rodents, he also advised the public on the need to keep their environment clean

The Medical Director called on relatives and people with persistent fever to visit Dalhatu Arad Specialist Hospital, adding that DASH is the only medical centre for the victims of Lassa fever.

He denied purported case of Mr.Baba Lawal who died of Lassa fever at the FMC Keffi was due to negligence by staff of the centre as untrue.

“I will use this medium to inform the general public that the centre is safe from Lassa fever, he however said the entire centre has been fumigated”.

“Our doctors are professionals who passed through rigorous training, he was referred to us by a doctor in DASH and was brought here unconscious on 11/01/2017, and his medical referral only showed that he has sepsis/tonsillitis”.

Lassa fever is a Hemorrhagic viral disease; this means that it causes the victim at terminal stage to bleed from all organs of the body, with such an advanced case as late Mr.Saidu without treatment for more than one week before presentation.

The medical Director on behalf of the medical centre sympathize with the deceased family for the irreparable loss and considered their sharp reactions and claims that the patient was killed as part of the grieving process.