Lassa virus resurfaces in Taraba

An outbreak of Lassa fever might have hit Taraba as one person has been confirmed dead, and two others quarantined, according to the state health commissioner, Innocent Vakkai.

He, however, said the state government has responded to the outbreak quickly, and therefore urged the public not to panic.

“Their blood samples have already been taken to Irrua Specialists’ Hospital in Edo State for further confirmation,” he said.

Explaining how the hemorrhagic fever spreads, Vakkai said people usually get infected with the Lassa Virus after exposure to infected rodents.

Symptoms include bleeding from the nose, mouth, and anus, plus high fever.

“Person to person transmission occurs through direct contact with the sick person,” he said.

He advised people to put their consumables in rodent-proof containers, and also wear protective gears like masks, gloves, gowns among others.

Lassa virus first hit Nigeria March 2012, killing 70, including three doctors and four nurses, out of the 108 people infected in 19 states across the nation.