…as resident doctor reportedly contracts Lassa Fever from patient under her care.
Jos, Nigeria – The iNews Times reports that the Plateau State Government has confirmed the death of three additional persons from Lassa fever, raising fresh concerns over the spread of the viral disease in the state.
The confirmation comes days after the death of Dr. Salome Oboyi, a young resident doctor at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Jos, who reportedly contracted the disease from a patient under her care.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday in Jos, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Baamlong, disclosed that laboratory tests confirmed the infections before the victims succumbed to the disease.
Baamlong assured residents that surveillance and public health interventions had been intensified across affected communities and health facilities to curb further spread.
According to him, emergency response measures have been fully activated following laboratory confirmation of additional cases.
“Plateau State has recorded confirmed cases of Lassa fever. So far, we have eight laboratory-confirmed cases and three deaths,” the commissioner stated.
He added that contact tracing, active surveillance, and other public health response activities were ongoing across the state.
The health commissioner further revealed that the state had received vaccines from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to strengthen containment efforts, noting that more supplies were expected.
“We have intensified contact tracing and surveillance across the state. Vaccines have been provided, and we are expecting more from the NCDC. Residents should remain calm but vigilant,” Baamlong said.
He urged the public to adopt preventive measures such as maintaining good hygiene, keeping food and household items away from rodents, and seeking prompt medical attention when experiencing symptoms like persistent fever, headache, or vomiting.
