By Christain W. Kennedy, Sr. in Kakata, Liberia
Margibi County has been plunged into a health emergency, after two persons were killed from the deadly Lassa Fever disease.
At a news conference in the provincial capital, Kakata on Tuesday, the Health Officer of the Margibi County Health Team (CHT), Dr.Myer Chea Pajibo confirmed the deaths of a man and woman from Lassa Fever.
According to medica science research, Lassa fever is one of the hemorrhagic fever viruses like Ebola virus, Marburg virus, and others.
It says unlike Ebola virus, Lassa fever is not as contagious person to person, nor as deadly.
The Margibi County Health Officer, Dr. Pajibo disclosed that the first casualty was a 56 year old male, who died at the C.H. Rennie Hospital on May 3, 2018 after showing signs and symptoms of the virus.
According to him, specimens were collected from the male patient and sent to Lower Margibi and it was confirmed that the man died as the result of Lassa Fever.
The second case involved a pregnant woman, age 35, who was in her 16th week of pregnancy. She was tested and confirmed positive when she appeared on the night of 5th May 2018 vomiting with blood.
Fifty other contacts in that area are currently being closely monitored to ensure that if they develop symptoms, they can be promptly taken to the hospital for treatment.
The Margibi County Health Officer further said that current situation is serious and it’s not being taken lightly by the Country’s health authorities.
Dr. Pajibo said an incident management system is being put together to be able to quickly address any future outbreak of Lassa Fever.
He said that professional health workers in Margibi County have started a daily monitoring of the contacts and visits at the homes.
He said that the Margibi County Health Team has since notified the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and the Ministry of Health, which have swiftly contributed towards the quick response.
He explained that Lassa Fever is similar to Ebola Virus, but it is contagious and has a treatment at the at the C.H.Rennie Hospital for people who come down with the disease.
He called on the public to careful to prevent spread of Lassa Fever and be able to always wash their hands because LS is often spread from an infected animals mostly rats and people who come down with it, among others.
Lassa fever was first discovered in the 1950s, and the viral particle was identified in 1969 from three missionary nurses who died in Lassa, Nigeria, after caring for an infected obstetrical patient, according to medical history.