Twenty-nine people die of yellow fever in Bauchi

Twenty-nine people have been confirmed dead following the outbreak of yellow fever in Bauchi state.

Rilwanu Mohammed, chairman, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BSPHDA), said on Thursday the state has 224 suspected cases.

Health agencies have been trying to curtail the disease since it was first recorded in the state in August.

Mohammed said the virus was first detected in Alkaleri council area in September, adding that efforts have since been made to avoid a further spread.

“We discovered 224 suspected cases, and 29 were confirmed dead, with 24 in Alkaleri local government, two in Bauchi local government, 1 in Darazo council area and two in Ningi local government,” he said.

“That is why government has made efforts through vaccination of people living in the prone areas.

“Already, 500,000 doses of vaccines had been administered in Alkaleri and we are expecting 600,000 doses of vaccines to be administered in Ningi community.”

Mohammed said yellow fever is not a communicable disease,  and that it can only be transmitted through mosquitoes.

He asked communities to give early information to the authorities, especially when they notice unusual happenings around them.

He also asked the residents of the state not to reject vaccines, saying this is the only way they could be free from the disease.