The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Gbangsheya Buma, confirmed the outbreak of Lassa Fever in the state on Tuesday. In a telephone interview with Taraba News, Buma reported that out of nine suspected cases recorded last Friday, eight tested positive for the viral hemorrhagic fever.
Buma assured that the state Ministry of Health is actively monitoring the situation and working closely with the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Jalingo to contain the disease.
“This is not unexpected as it is the season for such outbreaks, and we have made preparations despite the potential overwhelming nature of the situation,” Buma stated. “The NCDC has sent technical support to help us halt the spread of the disease, and the state is providing support to FMC to offer free treatment for Lassa Fever patients.”
Joseph Kuni, Acting Head of Clinical Services at FMC Jalingo, provided additional details, stating that the center currently has ten patients in its isolation ward, with some awaiting test results. He noted, “From January to February, we recorded 19 deaths in the isolation center. We sent 105 samples during this period, with 60 testing positive and 39 negative for Lassa Fever, while we await results for the remaining samples.”
Due to a fire outbreak that affected the modular laboratory last year, the center cannot conduct local tests and must send samples to Bauchi or Abuja for testing. Kuni also confirmed that a medical doctor from the hospital who contracted the disease has been treated and discharged.
Kuni highlighted the need for more assistance given the high number of cases, especially from the central part of the state. He reiterated that Lassa Fever is endemic in Nigeria, with outbreaks typically occurring during the dry season and transmitted to humans through contact with contaminated food or household items.
