Tragedy struck at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna as three employees lost their lives to an outbreak of viral hemorrhagic fever, commonly known as Lassa fever, according to reports from Naija News.
The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Jide Idris, confirmed the outbreak during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday. He revealed that the NCDC is actively monitoring the situation and collaborating with state health authorities to contain the spread of the disease.
Idris stated, “The NCDC was notified yesterday (Thursday) by the Kaduna State Ministry of Health of the report of deaths from suspected viral hemorrhagic fever at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna. Following this notification, the centre has been working with both institutions to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the suspected cases, as well as ramp up response activities.
“Four of the six blood samples from suspected cases sent to the Bayero University Teaching Hospital in Kano have been confirmed for Lassa fever. Furthermore, 25 close contacts of all these cases are now under follow-up and placed on prophylactic medicine.
“The state’s Ministry of Health has also activated the Incident Management System with all the response pillars including intensified risk communication and community engagement for the prevention and control of Lassa fever in the affected communities.”
