Lassa Fever Outbreak: Death toll rises to 5 in Taraba

The death toll of suspected cases of Lassa Fever outbreak in Taraba State may have risen to five as additional suspected cases were reported at the Specialist Hospital in Jalingo, the state capital.

Though yet to be confirmed that the cases are the rodent transferred disease, the Taraba State Specialist Hospital received three patients suffering from symptoms of the dreaded disease with two dead in the cause of treatment.

With the blood samples of suspected patients taken to Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State are yet to arrive in the state, Chief Medical Director of Taraba State Specialist Hospital, Dr Rimande Joel, confirmed that patients suspected to be suffering from the scourge were brought into the hospital in which two of them died late Wednesday.

The State Commissioner for Health, Mr Innocent Vakai, however reinstated the believe that there are diseases that have similar symptoms with Lassa Fever, insisting that only the confirmation or otherwise from the Specialist Hospital will determine if the state is facing an outbreak of the disease.

At the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, the Chief Medial Director, Dr Inusa Wuza, said the infected patients are responding to treatment in an isolated ward with drugs made available by the state government and the Federal Ministry of Health while medical personnel have been equipped with protective gadgets to guide against contamination.

As the state government awaits the result of blood samples from the specialists hospital for confirmation the government is expected to intensify its campaign on preventive measures as well as educating the citizens on the dangers of bush burning while proper hygienic conditions should be maintained by all and sundry.