Jalingo – The Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, on Tuesday confirmed the death of three persons following the recent outbreak of Lassa fever in Taraba.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Wiza Inusa, disclosed this to journalists while giving an update on the outbreak in Jalingo.

Inusa added that two others were still receiving treatment at the hospital.

According to him, the current incident started on Dec. 25.

“So far, we have a total of five cases out of which we lost three and two are receiving treatment,” he said.

The medical director urged the public not to panic as every effort was being made to contain the outbreak.

Inusa also advised residents to maintain “simple basic hygienic procedures to contain the situation’’.

“As we all know, this disease is carried by rodents, we advise people to mind the way they keep their food, plates and pots in the house.

“People should always keep their environment clean so as to keep rodents, especially rats, away,” he said.

The medical director enjoined the public to quickly report to the nearest hospital whenever they experienced any strange health conditions such as bleeding and abdominal pain, among others.

Besides, Inusa asked residents to avoid crowded areas and handshakes, and endeavour to report to medical personnel if a family member dies of unexplained condition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Lassa fever outbreak in 2012 claimed 10 lives before it was contained by the authorities in the state.

Meanwhile, Mr Segun Olulade, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health, on Tuesday advised residents to keep their environment clean in order to prevent the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

Olulade (APC-Epe II) gave the advice in a statement issued in Lagos against the backdrop of reported cases of Lassa fever outbreak in Taraba.

He urged the residents to immediately report any symptom of the disease to the nearest public hospital.
The statement said that reports had confirmed three persons dead and two others receiving treatment in Jalingo, Taraba.

“Lagosians should look out for any symptoms of the disease and immediately report to the appropriate government body.

“We just finished the Christmas and New Year celebrations and there is no way our surroundings won’t be littered with dirt and remnants of food.

“So there is need for us to do a proper cleaning of our environments so as to prevent rats associated with Lassa fever,’’ the lawmaker said.

The statement said that some of the symptoms associated with Lassa fever include nasal bleeding and bleeding through the anus and mouth.

It said that people usually get infected with the Lassa Virus after exposure to infected rodents, while person to person transmission occurred through direct contact with the sick person.

The statement, which called on the residents of the state to avoid contact with rats, urged them to do a total fumigation of their environment.

“Other precautionary measures include putting food in rodent proof containers and wearing protections such as masks, gloves, gowns when in contact with infected persons, among others.”

Lassa fever is described as an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of one to four weeks duration that occurs in West Africa.

It is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or fecal matter.