Lassa fever outbreak unsettles Adamawa NYSC camp

Fintiri seeks Federal Govt’s intervention

Tconfirmation of a Lassa fever case in the National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC) camp at Damare, Girei Local Council, by the Adamawa State Ministry of Ministry, has brought tension to the camp. Many corps members have been quarantined, as one is still under investigation at Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital ( MAUTH), Yola.

Briefing journalists, yesterday, in Yola, the Commissioner for Health and

Human Services, Felix Tangwami, said five samples were sent to National Reference Laboratory ( NRL), Abuja, but four results were negative, while one, a female, was positive.

He stated: “The good news for us is that while four re - sults came back negative, one was positive. The two pa - tients from NYSC camp , Damare, are still receiving treatment in MAUTH and their prognosis is not too bad. “The Rapid Response Team ( RRT) of the state has visited the NYSC camp and set up a team at the camp for any eventuality.”

Tangwami pointed out that all those that came in contact with the lady that was tested positive were under medical watch, including her room mates, adding that a roommate of the index case, who was also receiving treatment, would be reexamined for the disease.

The commissioner advised the residents to improve their personal hygiene and ensure that their food and household items were properly kept away from rodents, to a void being infected. “Let me, at this juncture, call on the public to remain calm, follow health workers’ in - structions and report any symptom similar to Lassa fever promptly ,” he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has called on the Federal Ministr y of Health to come to the aid of the state to tackle the pan - demic.