Plateau confirms five cases of Lassa fever

By Osifo Godfrey

The Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kuden Kamshak, has confirmed five cases of Lassa fever in Jos, the state capital.

While advising doctors and medical practitioners to be careful and not keep patients for too long in the hospitals as a measure to averting the spread, Kamshak said the five cases so far reported of Lassa fever in the state are responding to treatment. “So far, we have only five cases and they are responding to treatment. We have advised doctors not to keep patients for so long in the hospital to avoid contact and spread.” He said.

The commissioner, however advised citizens to imbibe clean and healthy environmental culture. He added that health officers have been mobilised and deployed to rural communities to sensitise them on the dangers and the symptoms of Lassa fever.

Meanwhile, Osun state has placed 55 persons under surveillance following the death of a resident doctor at Maxilofacial Surgical Department at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital. While briefing newsmen, the Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Health, Dr Temitope Oladele said emergency centres have been created to stem the spread of the disease.

“As of today, none of the 55 persons has shown any symptoms of Lassa fever but we are watching them to ensure that the disease does not spread. We have dedicated lines of those in the emergency centres, the numbers are 08032394921; 08062473160: 08035620234 and 08034175852.” He said.