Lassa Fever: Ebonyi Cautions Residents Against “Indiscriminate Handshakes”
Lekan Paul
Posted On Jan 17, 2018
Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi has advised its people to minimize handshakes, following the outbreak of Lassa Fever in the state.
Umahi gave the advice on in Abakaliki while briefing newsmen on the outcome of a meeting with the management of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA), the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and other stakeholders in the health sector.
On Monday, the state government confirmed the death of two persons from a renewed Lassa Fever outbreak in the state.
Dr. Daniel Onwuzurike, the Commissioner for Health, who made the disclosure, said that the deceased included a medical doctor and a nurse working at FETHA.
Umahi urged members of the public to report cases of high temperature, especially those that persisted for two or more days, to hospitals.
“Do not wait for the affected person to report to the hospital; do it yourself,” he said.
He also advised people against eating rats and bush meat, and stressed the need to wash hands frequently.
