•NCDC confirms 77 cases, 21 deaths

Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo, with agency report

An outbreak of Lassa fever has killed three people in Taraba, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

WHO Surveillance Officer, Dr. Bello Ahmed disclosed this at a sensitisation workshop on Lassa fever, organised by the state Ministry of Health in Jalingo, the state capital, yesterday.

Represented by Dr. Zeto Philip, the surveillance officer said 12 cases have been reported, three confirmed dead and three positive cases have been placed under close monitoring.

Ahmed said Bali, Ibi, Gassol, Gashaka, Jalingo and Ardo-Kola local governments in Taraba have been placed under Red Alert and explained that two deaths have so far been recorded in Jalingo and one in Ardo-Kola, putting the state at 25 per cent infection rate.

The WHO representative further explained that the survey was conducted between January 1 and 28, with 367 contacts identified across the country and urged the public to be mindful of their personal hygiene and safety to mitigate the spread of the disease.

In his remarks,  Commissioner for Health, Dr. Innocent Vakkai said the workshop was part of the state government’s efforts at creating awareness to mitigate the spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, National Coordinator of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, has said 21 deaths have been recorded from the 77 confirmed cases in the current outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria.

Ihekweazu disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the National Executive Council meeting of the National Association of Resident Doctors in Abuja, yesterday.

He said of the 77 confirmed cases, 10 health workers were affected.

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Dr. Vakkai quoted the Chief Medical Director of Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo, Dr Sylvanus Okogbeni, as confirming that two health workers affected were discharged on Monday.

He described the situation as sober, adding that it had resulted in serious emotional trauma, fear, anxiety and sometimes anger among stakeholders.

Ihekweazu said it is time stakeholders addressed the challenges of hemorrhagic fevers, including Lassa fever.

The national coordinator said NCDC has distributed more Ribavirin drugs used in the treatment of the disease to the affected states than it had ever done in the past and added that government alone might not be able to supply the needed drugs to all the affected persons in the country.

Ihekweazu said the centre has produced guidelines for the prevention and control of hemorrhagic fevers, adding that NARD members should work with their hospitals’ chief medical directors to address outbreaks.

In his remarks, President, Nigeria Medical Association,  Prof Mike Ogrima, urged doctors in the country not to attend to patients if they do not have protective gears.

“You have to get some level of immunity or protection before you provide services to such patients,” he said.

Lassa fever is a viral infection caused by the Lassa fever virus and the disease occurs all year round but more cases are recorded during the dry season.

It is spread through direct contact with urine, faeces, saliva or blood of infected rats, eating food or drinking contaminated water.

The disease can be prevented through enhanced personal hygiene, avoidance of all contact with rats (dead or alive) and keeping the house and surrounding clean always.