The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Abdulazeez Adeiza, while reacting to a viral video of an alleged Lassa fever outbreak in the state, on Tuesday, noted that a student who was admitted to the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja did not die of Lassa fever.
The commissioner said, “The social media had reported that the student died of hemorrhagic fever and that people who came in contact with him had been isolated.”
He explained that the student presented complaints of fever and bleeding from the gum.
He added that the patient was being investigated and managed, while samples were taken and sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, but unfortunately, before the result was released, he died..
The commissioner said the result came out to be negative for Lassa Fever.
He added, “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, therefore, advised members of the public to disregard the report as no case of Lassa fever has been reported in the state.
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