Kogi govt debunks Lassa fever outbreak

Kogi State Government has debunked reports on outbreak of Lassa fever across the 21 local government areas of the state.

Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, while reacting to a viral video of an alleged Lassa fever outbreak, noted that a student who was admitted to the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja did not die of Lassa fever.

According to the Commissioner, it was reported that the student died of hemorrhagic fever.

The Commissioner explained that the deceased student who was admitted at the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja presented complaints of fever and bleeding from the gum.

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He added that the patient was being investigated and managed, while samples were taken and sent to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Abuja, but before the result was released, he had lost his life.

The Commissioner said the result came out to be negative for Lassa fever.

In his words, ” The suspected case has 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”.

He advised members of the public to disregard the report as no case of Lassa fever has been reported in the state.