One person has been confirmed dead with two others quarantined for observation in Taraba state following the reported outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.
The Commissioner of Health, Innocent Vakkai, while addressing journalists at the state government house, said, ‘one person died and two others quarantined and their blood samples have already been taken to Irrua Specialists’ Hospital in Edo State for further confirmation.’
The Commissioner, however, noted that the state government had responded to the outbreak quickly and therefore urged the public not to panic.
Explaining how the fever spreads, Vakkai said, “People usually get infected with the Lassa Virus after exposure to infected rodents, while person to person transmission occurs through direct contact with the sick person.”
While urging anyone who witnesses nasal bleeding as well as bleeding through the anus and mouth to report to the nearest hospital as they are among the symptoms of the fever, the Commissioner stated further that other precautionary measures include “putting food in rodent proof containers and wearing protections such as masks, gloves, gowns among others.”
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