The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, disclosed this during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting in Awka, saying the patient was receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, in Ebonyi State.
Obidike said the state had activated its Incident Management System and strengthened collaboration with health partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), to coordinate containment efforts.
Health Officials Begin Contact Tracing
According to the commissioner, health officials would visit the affected household, identify people who had contact with the patient and assess their level of exposure to determine appropriate monitoring measures.
He urged residents to avoid self-medication and seek medical attention if they experienced persistent fever or malaria-like symptoms that failed to respond to treatment.
The government said early identification of potential exposures was central to containing the infection and ensuring that people at risk received timely medical attention.
Residents Urged to Observe Preventive Measures
The State Epidemiologist, Dr Chuma Emembolu, urged residents to maintain proper food storage and environmental hygiene to reduce the risk of infection.
He advised households to keep food in rodent-proof containers, maintain clean surroundings and avoid contact with the blood and other bodily fluids of suspected or confirmed Lassa fever patients.
“We urge residents of Omasi, other communities in Ayamelum and the state at large, to remain vigilant, cooperate with public health officials and avoid spreading unverified information,” Emembolu said.
The state government urged residents to cooperate with health officials as surveillance and contact tracing continue, with the aim of preventing further transmission and ensuring prompt medical care for affected individuals.
