The Plateau State Government on Monday
said it had recorded seven cases of Lassa fever in the state. The
Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Kamshak Kuden, disclosed this
to newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting in Jos.
Kuden said: “Last year, between November
and December, we battled with this viral haemorhagic fever. “We had
some casualties but we were able to contain it. “However, we have
recently recorded seven cases of Lassa fever. “We took their blood
samples to Irruwa Lassa Fever Laboratory, Edo.
“Two of them are confirmed to have the
disease, two were negative and we are yet to get the results of the
other three. “The confirmed cases include a Fulani lady from Riyom Local
Government Area and a student of University of Jos. “Both of them were
admitted at Jos University Teaching Hospital.”
The commissioner said the student was
treated and discharged, while the lady was still on admission, adding
that she was, however, responding to treatment. Kuden said those that
had contact with the suspects were under surveillance. The commissioner
said the ministry had begun “contact tracing” to monitor the suspects
for a period of 21 days, hoping that none came down with the virus.
He said: “What we want to tell people of
the state is that Lassa fever is back and the mode of transmission is
through a particular specie of rat. “We want to advice people to
maintain high level of sanitation and hygiene and to keep foodstuffs in
rat proven containers.”
The commissioner also called on health
workers to keep a “very high level index of suspicion” to combat the
disease. Kuden also called on disease surveillance officers in the 17
local government areas of the state to be on alert to enable them
discover fresh cases early.
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