Plagues,
Pestilences and Diseases
Deadly Lassa Fever outbreak kills seven in Nigeria
Written by Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo
Friday, 10 February 2012
The Tribune
Seven people have reportedly died in Taraba State, following an
outbreak of lassa fever a couple of days ago.
The state Commissioner for Health, Prince Mustapha Hamman Gabdo,
comfirmed this while briefing journalists in the state.
The commissioner said four of the victims of the disease died at
the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, one died at the Government
House Clinic, Jalingo, and the two others, who contracted the
disease in Taraba State died in Gombe State after travelling there
for treatment.
He said the ministry had already taken measures to stop the spread
of the epidemic and would embark on sensitisation campaigns as
well as vaccinate the entire people of the state against the
disease.
Shedding more light on the source of the dreaded fever and its
dangers to human beings, the head of Epidemiology unit in the
state Ministry of Health, Innocent Vakai, said the disease was
transmitted by a specific rat which had no hair on its tail.
The Epidemiologist said the symptoms of Lassa Fever included
severe headache, high fever, vomits that passed through all the
openings in the human body, just as he advised persons having such
symptoms to rush to the nearest hospital for medical attention.
Similary, the Taraba State House of Assembly, on Thursday,
summoned an urgent public importance sitting, followed reported
cases of outbreak of Lassa fever in Jalingo, the state capital.
Member representing Gembu Constituency, Honorable Abubakar
Jugidda, who disclosed this before the assembly, stressed the need
for the state government to look into the issue immediately to
control the epidemic to save lives.
The law maker urged the house to impress on the state government
to direct the ministry of health to provide the necessary drugs to
the victims of the disease.
Honorable Jugulde also advised the house to embark on an
enlightment campaign to educate the people of the danger of the
diseases and ways of preventing same.
Other members who commented on the issue, seconded the motion
describing the disease as a dangerious thing to mankind that
needed urgent attention.
The members, Mark Useni, Josiah Sabo Kente and Abubakar Lawal
regretted the alarming rate the disease was claiming lives within
and outside the state and urged the state government to take
proactive step to address the issue.