Panic As Another Nigerian Doctor Gets Diagnosed With Lassa Fever

A doctor has been diagnosed with Lassa fever in Jigawa State.

The acting permanent secretary, Jigawa State Ministry of health, Salisu Mu’azu, confirmed this to PREMIUM TIMES Sunday morning.

The victim, Anthony Etim, said to be a staff of Medicins Sans Frontieres also known as Doctors without Borders, is now being treated at the isolated Infectious disease control unit in Jahun hospital at Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa.

Mr Etim reportedly developed the symptoms following an official engagement at an Internally Displaced Persons Camps (IDPs Camp) in Borno State.

This development is coming days after PREMIUM TIMES reported how two doctors and a pregnant woman died from the disease in the neighbouring Kano State.

Mr Mu’azu said about eleven people in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa are being closely monitored following contact with a relative, a medical doctor, now quarantined in Kano over the Lassa fever.

He said the state government is taking precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease among health personnel by using the approved standard of protective materials for its personnel.

Also, radio jingles are being in place to enlighten the public about the killer disease and the need for prevention, the official said.