How Lassa Fever Was Discovered In UNIZIK 

Raymond Ozoji, Awka
The outbreak of Lassa Fever disease in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka is no longer news, following an established case of the disease in the institution, where a certain 200 level student of the university was diagnosed of the deadly virus.
The medical director of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Medical Centre, Prof. Asomugha, had declined giving information on the issue on Friday when some journalists stormed his office to obtain first hand information on the development.
The medical director had told journalists that he was constrianed to speak on the matter but had given the latest update on the issue to the vice Chancellor of the university Prof. Charles Okechukwu Esimone through the acting public relations officer of the university named Chika Ene.
When contacted, the VIce Chancellor, Prof. Esimone, said the public relations officer has issued a press statement to that effect and that the statement contained the position of the university on the development.
The press statement signed by Chika Ene and circulated via WhatsApp platforms 31th January, 2020 reads in part, “This is to bring to the notice of the university community and the general public the true position on the recent case of Lassa Fever in the institution. A 200 level student of the university who was admitted into the medical center and later discharged herself against medical advice was later diagnosed to be a case of Lassa Fever at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Amaku, Awka.
“On diagnosis, the Public Health Department of the Anambra State Ministry of Health got in touch with our medical centre and so far, contact tracing has been done for both medical personnel and students who had primary contact with the index case. They are equally being followed up closely to monitor for secondary transmission.
“The index case is responding to treatments as our telephone correspondence revealed. The management assures the university community and the general public to remain calm while they go about their daily routine.”

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