Plateau confirms another case of Lassa fever

The Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr Kuden Deyin on Tuesday confirmed another case of Lassa fever in the state.

Deyin who made the confirmation to Newsmen in Jos, said the patient who was brought-in from Garkawa in Mikang Local Government Area was displaying symptoms of Lassa fever.

“After blood sample was taken from the patient, the result came out positive and the patient is currently responding to treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

“The state has so far recorded four cases of Lassa fever and three out of the four patients are responding to treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital while one patient died,’’ he said.

The commissioner advised the public to ensure that they maintain a very high standard of personal hygiene and ensure that their environments are kept clean.

“Food stuffs should be kept in rodent-proof containers and people should also desist from drying their food stuffs on the highway, as they never can tell when rats will defecate or urinate on them.

“Health workers should be on the alert while private medical practitioners are advised not to keep patients who manifest symptoms of Lassa fever for long.

“Rather such patients should be referred to tertiary health institutions for prompt medical attention as time was of the essence in treating Lassa fever,’’ the commissioner said.

Recalled that on July 8, students from Federal Government Girls College, were rushed from the school clinic to the Jos University Teaching Hospital and it was observed that they were displaying symptoms of Lassa fever.

Their blood samples were taken to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) were it was discovered that three out of the four samples were positive.