Korede Abdullah 
ANAMBRA, Nigeria – The Anambra State Government has confirmed a case of Lassa fever involving a patient linked to the Omasi community in Ayamelum Local Government Area, triggering emergency surveillance and contact-tracing measures to prevent further transmission.
The Commissioner for Health, Afam Obidike, announced the case on Monday at an emergency stakeholders’ meeting in Awka, where officials activated the Incident Management System to coordinate the response. Obidike said the patient was receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA), in neighbouring Ebonyi State.
He said the government had intensified disease surveillance and public awareness, with health partners, including the World Health Organisation and Médecins Sans Frontières, participating in the emergency meeting.
According to the commissioner, health officials would visit the affected household in Omasi to identify people who had contact with the patient and classify them according to their level of exposure for appropriate monitoring.
The measures are intended to identify possible secondary infections early and reduce the risk of further spread. Obidike urged residents experiencing persistent fever or malaria-like symptoms that do not improve with appropriate treatment to seek medical attention promptly rather than rely on self-medication.
An epidemiologist, Chuma Emembolu, advised residents to take precautions against exposure to rodents, which can transmit the Lassa fever virus to humans.
He urged households to keep food covered, store it in rodent-proof containers and maintain clean surroundings to prevent rats from contaminating food and household items with their urine and droppings.
“We urge residents of Omasi and other communities in Ayamelum and the state at large to remain vigilant, cooperate with public health officials and avoid spreading unverified information,” he said. “These measures are aimed at strengthening preparedness, monitoring potential contacts and reducing the risk of further transmission.”
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