One killed, two hospitalised as Lassa fever hits Federal govt college, Plateau

One student has been killed, while two others are currently in hospital, following an outbreak of Lassa fever at the Federal Government College, Langtang, Plateau, state.

Kuden Deyin, Plateau health commissioner,  confirmed this to NAN on Sunday.

“There was an outbreak of Lassa fever at the Federal Government College, Langtang; it has claimed one life while two others are in the hospital,” Kuden told NAN.

He said four students were rushed from the school clinic to the Jos University Teaching Hospital.

“The students displayed symptoms of Lassa fever and we immediately took their blood samples to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, where three tested positive to the disease,” he said.

“One among those that tested positive is dead, while the other two are still on admission at JUTH.”

Deyin said the Plateau government had met with the principal of the college and advised her to halt the resumption of the students from their mid-term break.

The commissioner advised families with children from the school to observe them and report any noticed symptom of the fever to JUTH, Plateau Specialist Hospital or the Bingham University Teaching Hospital.

“Any child, who manifests symptoms of fever and bleeding from any part of the body, should be rushed to any of these hospitals for prompt evaluation,” he said.

Deyin advised members of the public to pay attention to personal hygiene and keep the environments clean, while foodstuffs should be protected from rodents.

He particularly cautioned Plateau residents against drying foodstuffs on the highway as rats could defecate or urinate on them.

The commissioner urged health workers to be on the alert and rush patients with symptoms of Lassa Fever to tertiary health institutions.