By Goodness Ndukuba, Awka
The Anambra State Government has confirmed a case of Lassa fever linked to Omasi community in Ayamelum Local Government Area of the state.
The government has also activated an emergency response to prevent further transmission.
Afam Obidike, the Commissioner for Health, disclosed this on Monday, saying the patient is currently receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA) in Ebonyi State,
Obidike spoke during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Awka, where he announced measures to strengthen disease surveillance, raise public awareness and monitor people who may have been exposed to the infection.
He said the ministry had activated the Incident Management System (IMS), a coordinated mechanism for managing public health emergencies, following the confirmation of the case.
The meeting was attended by health partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), as well as the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Obiageli Uchebo.
Obidike said the emergency response would include follow-up activities at the affected household in Omasi, identification of people who might have had contact with the patient, and classification of such contacts according to their level of exposure for appropriate monitoring.
The commissioner called on residents to remain vigilant and promptly seek medical attention if they experienced persistent fever or malaria-like symptoms that failed to improve with appropriate treatment.
He cautioned against self-medication, emphasising that early diagnosis and timely medical care were essential to managing suspected Lassa fever infections.
Emembolu Chuma, the State Epidemiologist urged residents to adopt preventive measures to minimise exposure to rodents, which transmit the virus through their urine and droppings.
He advised households to keep food covered, store foodstuffs in rodent-proof containers and maintain clean surroundings to prevent rats from contaminating food and household items.
Chuma also warned against direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of suspected or confirmed Lassa fever patients, urging residents and caregivers to observe appropriate infection prevention and control measures.
The Ministry of Health urged residents of Omasi, other communities in Ayamelum and the wider state to cooperate with public health officials and promptly report suspected cases.
It also cautioned against spreading unverified information, stressing that public cooperation was essential to effective disease surveillance and containment.
The state government said the response measures were aimed at monitoring potential contacts, strengthening preparedness and reducing the risk of further transmission.
Lassa fever is an acute viral illness transmitted primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents.
Human-to-human transmission can also occur through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person, particularly in healthcare settings without adequate infection prevention measures.
Early medical assessment is important because the disease can cause severe illness and may be fatal in some cases.
