7 Lassa fever suspects on the run in Taraba

Doctors attend to a Lassa fever patient

Seven suspected Lassa fever patients on admission at the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo, capital of Taraba State have vanished.

Dr Aisha Sani, the Chairperson, Lassa Fever Committee at the medical centre disclosed this today, saying that government is making frantic efforts to arrest the suspects.

“Seven persons had absconded. We are making frantic efforts to arrest and bring them back to the hospital before they infect others with the disease.

“We have our internal securities here, but the truth is that we need more to secure the Lassa fever unit,” Sani said.

So far, the deadly Lassa fever has claimed 14 lives in the state from January to date. About 80 people have died in Nigeria, overall.

According to Aisha, of the 49 suspected cases of the disease reported in the hospital, 21 persons were treated and discharged.

The doctor said laboratory test had so far confirmed four cases of the disease, while four suspected cases were referred to the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua, Edo.

“The four patients had already developed kidney failure and you know we don’t have dialysis section here.

“Let me use this medium to appeal to the Federal Government to provide a dialysis unit in this hospital so that we can save lives,” she said.

Aisha said the hospital was currently handling two cases of the disease, adding that the worst affected areas in the state were Jalingo, Ardo-Kola and Bali local government areas.

The FMC officially confirmed the first death of three persons of Lassa fever disease on Jan. 5.

- TheNews

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