Taraba Government confirms Lassa fever outbreak

The Taraba State Government has confirmed the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

The Commissioner of Health, Innocent Vakkai, who confirmed the outbreak said, “One person died and two others quarantined and their blood samples have already been taken to Irrua Specialists’ Hospital in Edo State for further confirmation.”

While addressing journalists on Friday, Mr. Vakkai advised the public not to panic as the state government had responded swiftly to the outbreak.

He also elaborated on how the fever spreads.

“People usually get infected with the Lassa Virus after exposure to infected rodents, while person to person transmission occurs through direct contact with the sick person,” the commissioner said.

He called on the residents to avoid contact with rats especially in the areas where the outbreak occurred.

“Other precautionary measures include putting food in rodent proof containers and wearing protections such as masks, gloves, gowns among others,” he added.

Mr. Vakkai further called on residents to report to the nearest hospital any case of nasal bleeding, as well as bleeding through the anus and mouth which he said are among the symptoms of the disease.

It could be recalled that a Lassa Fever outbreak occurred in Taraba in February 2012 causing the death of 10 people including a doctor and two nurses who attended to the patients.

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