Lassa fever hits Idoma community, suspected case confirmed in Okpoga

The Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi on Tuesday confirmed one suspected case of Lassa fever in the hospital.

Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Terlumun Swende, who disclosed this to journalists in his office, said one case has so far been reported from Okpoga, headquarters of Okpokwu Local Government Area of the state.

Prof. Swende, who spoke through the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Olusaya Alao, said the victim is a 40 year-old woman.
He said the hospital got confirmation of the case last weekend and immediately commenced treatment by giving her Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs, adding that the woman was responding to treatment.

“We properly investigated the woman who is 40 years old and lives in Okpoga in Okpokwu Local Government Area.

“She presented with symptoms and features suggestive of fever that was not abating following routine treatment for malaria and other common infections, so we took her samples and sent for Lasser fever investigation and the result came out confirmed as Lasser fever and we are currently treating her,” he said