Lassa fever: 1 dead, 2 under surveillance in Bauchi

One person has died of Lassa fever, while two other suspected cases are being monitored in Bauchi State.

The head of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Agency, Ibrahim Gamawa, made the disclosure yesterday.

Speaking to our correspondent, he said that the victim, who was from Dul ward in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state, died on his way to the hospital.

Gamawa said the two suspected cases were recorded in Alkaleri Local Government Area and Liman Katagum in Bauchi Local Government Area.

“The victim died on his way to hospital, but it was established from the samples taken from him that he died from the fever. For the two suspected cases, we have sent their samples to Irua in Edo State for analysis and we are waiting for the result,” he said.

He said that since Lassa fever cannot be treated at the Primary Healthcare level, the state was collaborating with the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) on the matter.

“We have activated all our channels of information and responses and we have sensitised our health workers, especially those in the rural areas to be vigilant in order to detect the early symptoms of the fever for immediate action,” he added.

Bauchi was listed among five states that recorded new cases of Lassa fever in August.