14 die of Lassa fever, 7 on the run in Taraba

– 14 Taraba residents have recently died of Lassa fever

–  The worst affected areas in the state are Jalingo, Ardo-Kola and Bali local government areas

According to Aisha Sani, the chairperson of Lassa Fever Committee in the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, a growing Lassa fever outbreak has killed 14 people in Taraba from January to date.

Since the beginning of the year 21 persons out of the 49 suspected cases of the disease were treated and discharged. However, seven potentially infected patients had fled the hospital. The hospital is currently handling two cases ofthe viral fever.

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“Seven persons had absconded. We are making frantic efforts to arrest and bring them back to the hospital before they infect others with the disease.We have our internal securities here, but the truth is that we need more to secure the Lassa fever unit,” Ms. Sani said.

As at today, four cases of the deadly disease were laboratory-confirmed, while four suspected cases were submitted to the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua, Edo state.

 “The four patients had already developed kidney failure and you know we don’t have dialysis section here. Let me use this medium to appeal to the Federal Government to provide a dialysis unit in this hospital so that we can save lives,” she said.

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The worst affected local government areas in Taraba are reportedly Jalingo, Ardo-Kola and Bali. The number of Lassa fever infections across West Africa every year is between 100,000 to 300,000, with about 5,000 deaths, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Lassa fever is asymptomatic in 80 percent of cases but for others it can cause fever, physical fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches, abdominal pains, sore throat. Neck or facial swelling can sometimes be observed.

Ribavirin is an efficient treatment to fight Lassa fever. This drug can treat infected people if it is administered as soon as the first signs appear.

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