BEVERLY HILLS, January 04, (THEWILL) – One person has been confirmed dead with two others quarantined for observation in Taraba state following the reported outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.
Innocent Vakkai, the Commissioner of Health, who confirmed the outbreak advised the public not to panic as the state government had responded swiftly to the outbreak.
“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,” he said.
Explaining how the fever spreads, Vakkai revealed that “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.”
He called on the residents to avoid contact with rats especially in the areas where the outbreak occurred and take precautionary measures against the disease.
“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.
TheWill recalls that a Lassa Fever outbreak, which occurred in Taraba in February 2012, caused the death of 10 people including a doctor and two nurses who attended to the patients.
