Man, 28, dies of Lassa fever in Abia State

Abia State Ministry of Health and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, the state capital, have confirmed an outbreak of Lassa fever in the state, announcing that an infected 28-year-old man on admission at FMC has died of the scourge.

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Chief Emole Egbulefu, told journalists in his office yesterday that the deceased, who hailed from Avomkwu, Olokoro in Umuahia South, died at the FMC on January 1, 2020, the same day he was admitted.

Also, the Medical Director of FMC, Dr. Azubuike Onyebuchi, disclosed that all the contacts with the index patient had been placed on serious surveillance, while those suspected to be of high risk were placed on appropriate medicines.