One person has died of Lassa fever in Benue State, and efforts are ongoing to identify others who may have been in contact with the deceased.
Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Sunday Ongbabo, disclosed this during an interview in Makurdi.
Ongbabo said the combined surveillance team has already visited the affected area, to comb it for contact tracing.
Mayowa Okunato reports that Lassa fever is known to be endemic in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, but probably exists in other West African countries as well.
While the fatality rate is typically 15 to 20 percent, the latest outbreak in Nigeria has reached height of nearly 47 percent
In fatal cases deaths usually occurs in two weeks. Benue State confirmed one case which occurred on the 14th of September this year, with one death recorded.
Medical practitioners also enlightened the public of signs and symptoms to look out for. He further advised members of the public on the mode of transmission and prevention.
Early supportive care with dehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival.
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