No fewer than nine suspected cases of Lassa fever was so far recorded in Adamawa state, as volunteers now embark on schools and house to house enlightenment campaign against the epidemic.
Health officials say that out of the figure, 2 were confirmed positive comprising one from Numan and one from Yola North Local Governments Areas, while six tested negative and one pending.
According to 2020 Lassa Fever outbreak Situation Report serial number 14 by the Adamawa State Ministry of Health dated 13th February, 2020 indicate that one of the confirmed positive patient from Ngbalang in Numan local government area is dead, while a cleaner who works in a private hospital and came into contact with the deceased was also confirmed to be having the Lassa virus.
The Director Public Health of the state Ministry of Health Dr Bwalki Dilli said the cleaner in one of the private hospital who came in contact with the deceased was responding well to medication at the treatment centre at the Federal Medical Centre FMC Yola.
Bwalki cautioned residents to always keep their surroundings clean, keep food well covered in containers and desist from drying food in open spaces.
For now, volunteers in Yola North Local Government Area have visited 5 schools, food vendors and staff of the Local Government Area and sensitized 1,274 people on how to prevent spread of Lassa fever and who to report to when a suspected case is identified.
Also staffs of the Ministry of Environment have sensitized 284 people in 103 households in Demsawo, Nassarawo, Luggere and Karewa wards of Yola North Local Government Area on the disease.
It was however observed that poor environmental sanitation was still prevalent in some high-risk communities like around Chochi Bridge and Wuro Jabbe all in Yola despite sensitization and advocacy.
