Panic in imo state as Lassa fever kills three persons, seven others isolated

Fear has gripped residents of Owerri,the imo urban center, as 3 persons are confirmed dead from the dreadful Lassa fever virus while seven others are isolated.

Confirming the incident yesterday  to Daily Sun, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Angela Uwakwem, said that the 3 victims died of the virus after the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri referred them to a different health institution for potential cure.

She also stated that another seven patients are on danger list, but assured that their was no cause for alarm as they're already isolated.

Mrs Uwakwem also assured that the state government was working hard to ascertain the point of the first contact while appealing to the media to help  enlighten the people.

“People should stop unnecessary shaking of hands, people should equally stop eating exposed food, the virus is caused by rats so people should be encouraged to form use of rat poison in their homes,” she suggested.

The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Dr Kingsley Achigbu,who also confirmed the incident, however, noted that the victims never died at the FMC, even after they were initially admitted there.

Dr Achigbu disclosed that the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has been enlightened of the outbreak of the virus and the number of victims.

According to a reliable source, the management of the FMC, Owerri had quickly referred the patients out of the hospital when the case flooded it.

“It is unfortunate that the only federal government owned medical facility in imo State does not have all it takes to combat a case of Lassa fever. The case flooded them and they had no other option than to refer the patients out of the hospital. sadly, they died outside of the state,”  the source said.

Meanwhile, Governor Okorocha has promised to take adequate steps to regulate more spread of the virus within the state.

He also warned residents of the state to avoid consuming raw garri and limit staying in over crowded place.

The governor who gave the advice while informing journalists in the state said: “This morning we woke up to hear that Lassa fever has killed 3 persons and we even have seven cases of Lassa fever patients and this number is simply too large for a state. and we are concerned about the speed of the spread.

“These cases were recorded in some hospitals, somewhere in Orlu and some other parts of the state. For this reason, we kindly advise that people should avoid over crowded areas, reduce the shaking of hands, and body contacts at this period.