Nigerian Army raises alarm as Lassa Fever kills officer

The Nigerian Army has raised an alarm over an outbreak of Lassa Fever.

A statement on Wednesday by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 3 Division, Maj Ikechukwu Eze, said the disease killed an officer on Tuesday.

It read: “The Headquarters 3 Division wishes to inform the general public that a male senior non- commissioned officer of the Division was admitted and was being managed for resistant malaria at the 3 Div Hospital after returning from Kogi State where he went for his father’s burial.

“Consequently, the soldier was managed but there was no significant improvement which resulted to him being referred to Bingham University Teaching Hospital (Jankwano) Jos for further management.

“Unfortunately, the soldier died on 15 January 2019, 4 days after his case was reported.” Maj Eze stated.

“Available medical information confirmed that the soldier may have died of Lassa Fever”.

The division said while investigation is ongoing, it had taken the following measures:

“Contact Tracing and Monitoring for both primary and secondary contacts in collaboration with Representatives of World Health Organization (WHO), Medical Personnel of Bingham University Teaching Hospital and 3 Division Medical Services and Hospital.

“Sensitization for residents of Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, the host community and the general public has also commenced.

“The General Officer Commanding has further directed that the entire Maxwell Khobe Cantonment be fumigated,” he said.