Lassa Fever kills 2 in Plateau, spreads to Delta and Ekiti

Lassa fever has claimed two more lives in Plateau state, the state government confirmed on Monday in Jos.

Kuden Dayin, the commissioner for health, told NAN that the victims died at the Jos University Teaching Hosital (JUTH) on Saturday.

The latest development brings to three, the number of persons so far killed, after the commissioner confirmed the death of one person at Ting village in Fombur district of Mangu local government area last week.

According to Dayin, relations, friends and health workers, who came in contact with the latest victims, have been placed under surveillance.

He also disclosed that 32 persons were currently under surveillance in Mangu, up from the 15 earlier placed under surveillance in that area last week.

The commissioner, however, said that none of the persons under surveillance had shown any positive sign of symptoms of the disease.

He commended the federal ministry of health and the World Health Organisation for supplying drugs to the state through the Centre for Disease Control.

He warned people against the consumption of rat meat.

Dayin advised residents to ensure personal and environmental hygiene to minimise the possibility of contacting the disease.

Meanwhile, the hemorrhagic disease has spread to Delta and Ekiti states.

In Delta, a 65-year-old woman from Anambra state, who was receiving medical attention at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Asaba was referred to Federal Medical Centre, still Asaba, when her conditioned worsened.

She later tested positive to the disease.

According to the Delta State Rapid Response Team on Lassa fever, 22 persons who had contact with the confirmed case have been placed on surveillance, while five samples have been sent for laboratory investigation.

In Ekiti, a patient on admission at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, tested positive to the disease on Monday.

Olurotimi Ojo, commissioner for health, confirmed the news in Ado Ekiti, capital of the state.

He said the state’s medical team was working hard to save the patient, who has already been isolated at the hospital.