Lassa fever kills 2, 7 under surveillance in Imo

From Angela Nkwo-Akpolu, Owerri
Fear gripped the people of Imo State on Wednesday as the state government confirmed the death of two residents from Lassa fever with seven others undergoing treatment.
The two victims died after they were transferred to another hospital from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Angela Uwakwem, told The AUTHORITY that, a�?we have seven suspected cases of Lassa fever, unfortunately, two persons have been confirmed dead after they were transferred to another hospital from FMC Owerri.a�?
She appealed to the people to avoid unnecessary shaking of hands, eating exposed food, and should use rat poison in their homes to eliminate rodents to contain the spread.
The commissioner explained that the state government was working hard to track the first contact, and urged the media a�?to kindly assist us.”
The Chief Medical Director of FMC Owerri, Dr. Kingsley Achigbu, said that the two people died on their way to the hospital where they were transferred to.
He maintained that the victims did not die in FMC Owerri as alleged, adding that the authorities of the hospital had referred them after medical attention.
However, a source who pleaded anonymity, said the patients were referred elsewhere when the authorities felt that FMC Owerri lacked the required equipment to combat the virus.