Lassa fever: Sokoto intensifies surveillance as three tests return negative

Sokoto Governor, Aminu Tambuwal
Tambuwal

The Sokoto State Government said it has intensified surveillance across the state in efforts to contain the spread of Lassa fever.

Despite initial apprehension of a possible case of the deadly disease in the state, the government said three suspected cases earlier taken to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Laboratory Centre for blood sample analysis have all come out negative, reaffirming the zero case submission in Sokoto.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal stated this Wednesday when he went round hospitals in Sokoto town as part of efforts to intensify awareness on the dangers of the disease.

Speaking at the State Specialist Hospital, Tambuwal said all necessary precaution has been put in place while technology has been deployed to help with surveillance in all the 23 local government areas of the state.

He said the monthly environmental sanitation introduced by the government has helped in the cleaning of environment, but residents need to do more to maintain high hygiene standards.

Conducting the Governor round the hospitals, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Balarabe Shehu Kakale, said government has trained enough personnel to handle any possible outbreak of the ailment.