Plateau raises alarm over suspected cases of Lassa fever

The Plateau State government, on Friday raised alarm over suspected cases of Lassa fever in five Local Government Areas of the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Kuden Kamshak, said the disease was likely to manifest in Shendam, Pankshin, Jos North, Langtang South and Mangu Local Government Areas of the state.

He revealed that already there was a confirmed case in Mangu local Government Area, which had already been treated.

The commissioner said the victim came to the state from Abuja.

Mr. Kamshak said infected persons who go without medical attention for 14 days of contacting the disease, stand the risk of dying.

“Death usually occurs within 14 days in fatal cases,” he said.

He gave the symptoms of the disease to include “headache, sore throat, chest pain, muscle pain, nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cough”.

“Family members should always be careful to avoid contact with blood and other body fluid while caring for sick persons.

“Discourage rodents from entering homes, dispose of all garbage far away from homes and store grains and other foodstuff in rodent-proof containers.

“Healthcare personnel should always ensure that they apply standard infection prevention and control precautions when caring for the sick,” he cautioned.

The commissioner said the disease had no vaccine, but could be prevented through observing good health.

According to him, the state government in collaboration with World Health Organization, WHO, had set out mechanism to curtail spread of other diseases.

While calling on the people to be on alert for possible outbreak of Lassa fever in the state, he said already there were cases of the disease in Bauchi, Nassarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo and Oyo States.