Gombe State government said on Wednesday that it has recorded its index Lassa fever case in Gombe, the state capital.

The commissioner for health, Habu Dahiru, said this at a news briefing in his office in Gombe.

Mr Dahiru said that the patient was a 25-year-old man who allegedly travelled to Adamawa State and stayed for two weeks.

“Upon his return to Gombe, he started running temperature and was admitted to Sunnah and Ahajas Clinics, respectively.

“From Ahajas, he was referred to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, when they saw that he was not responding to treatment and his condition was deteriorating.

“It was at the teaching hospital that he was tested for Lassa and was confirmed positive.

“When the person was confirmed positive, he was moved to an isolated ward for treatment,” the commissioner said.

He further said that samples of 15 people who had come into contact with him had been taken to a laboratory for testing, and the results were being awaited.

“Also, he said the incident management team of the state Ministry of Health had been activated and that it was going around the state searching for active cases.”

Mr Dahiru emphasised the need for proper hygiene and sanitation by the residents to curtail the spread of the disease.

He also called on the public to report any fever cases to the nearest hospital and avoid self-medication.

(NAN)