About three persons, including a pregnant woman, have reportedly died from suspected cases of Lassa fever in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, North-Central Nigeria.
Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Health, Dr. Demina John Ali, said the state has been placed on high alert due to the seasonal nature of Lassa fever, with surveillance and preparedness intensified across all 13 local government areas.
Dr. Ali explained that the cases involved women from Tunga village in Awe LGA, who were initially referred from a local clinic to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lafia, where they later died, with laboratory tests subsequently confirming Lassa fever.
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Following the confirmation, the Ministry has deployed a response team to the affected community, activated infection prevention and control measures, and carried out contact tracing.
According to Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, 28 contacts were identified, with six persons who showed symptoms already evacuated to the teaching hospital, tested, and all results returned negative, after which they were discharged.
The Permanent Secretary emphasised that no additional deaths or confirmed cases of Lassa fever have been recorded, assuring residents that surveillance and monitoring remain ongoing across the state.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
