The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, and the Lagos State Government, has asked residents, visitors of Lagos State and Nigeria at large to remain calm as the outbreak of Lassa fever is under control.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD), LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode, who spoke at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, said all measures are being taken to ensure the epidemic is controlled.

Bode noted that the last two cases of the epidemic managed in LUTH arrived from outside facilities, adding that a 32-year-old lady came with bleeding complications of pregnancy on July 25 and died the same day because she had a post-mortem examination performed on July 27. The result of viral studies came out positive for Lassa fever on July 29.

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He said the second male client with known sickle cell anaemia came in on Saturday, August 5 and died the same day. Meanwhile, as part of efforts to contain the spread of the virus in Lagos, the state government has called on residents to be calm and not panic even as it assured the people of working with the Federal Government to contain it.

The Lagos State Government has also urged that people remain calm as there are efforts, in collaboration with the Federal Government to contain the epidemic, before it causes more harm.

Director, Disease Control, Lagos State, Dr. Eniola Erinsho and Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga, said the state government is committed to ensuring that people are safe.

They advised residents to keep their environment clean to avoid contact with rats and handle their refuse dumps properly to avoid new cases.

Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the government is currently carrying out ‘contact tracing’ to determine those who may have been infected, adding that isolation centres have been prepared to manage suspected and confirmed cases while drugs and other materials have also been prepositioned at designated facilities.