A survivor of Lassar fever, Doctor Agbata Ernest, said that lack of early diagnosis affects the fight against the disease.
This was as Agbada narrated how he contracted virus and battled the disease for 10 days without succumbing to it.
It is a known fact that many carriers of Lassar fever including health workers have died of the virus.
Dr. Agbata who works with Agbata Memorial hospital, Adani Uzo-Uwani in
Enugu state, narrated his experience with the deadly disease during lassa fever case management training organized by Ebonyi State Ministry of Health in collaboration with Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and World Health Organization.
The event took place in Abakaliki, the state capital with health experts in attendance.
He noted that he contracted the disease and spent 10 days before diagnosis and he is alive today to tell his story.
He described lassa fever as a highly endemic that kills fast especially if a person has serious ailments including kidney and liver diseases.
He said” I contracted lassa fever and I spent almost 10 days before diagnosis was carried out and I am still alive.
“Some had renal injuries and died. Lassa fever is a very bad hemorrhage disease. If you have some health problems like kidney problem and contract it, you will die early.
“Lassa fever is highly endemic and the problem is lack of diagnosis by Doctors, that’s the major problem. The problem is the Doctor to be able to think in the direction of lassa, not that they cannot make it”.
Anais Legand, the Technical Officer, Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers Infectious Hazard Management, WHO Health Emergencies disclosed that many people contract the disease through rodents especially when their babies are born and they have contact with them.
She urged people to always secure their foods and avoid having contacts with rodents to avoid contracting the disease.
The state Director of Public Health, Dr. Hyacinth Ebenyi said lassa fever has remained a critical health concern in Nigeria.
