Lassa fever kills student in Plateau

A senior student of Federal Government Girls’ College, Langtang, Plateau State, Miss Faith Isa Tanko, has died of a Lassa fever infection in the school.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, extended condolences to the parents, according to a statement by Director Press, Mrs. Chinenye P. Ihuoma yesterday.

She said the minister was represented by the Director, Basic and Secondary Education Department, Mr. Jonathan Mbaaka and the Director, Federal Education Quality Assurance Service Department, Alhaji Lawal Malikawa on the visit to the family in Jos, on Tuesday.

The minister expressed confidence that with measures taken so far by the school with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), and the health authorities of Langtang Local Government Area as well as that of Plateau State Government, the situation has been successfully controlled.

Earlier, the Principal of the College, Mrs. Laura Dogo said four students, including the deceased, were suspected to be suffering from hemorrhagic fever and admitted at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).

According to her, further tests confirmed it was Lassa Fever, which prompted the extension of the mid-term break of the college to enable the authorities frontally tackle the emergency without risk to the rest of the students.

Mrs. Dogo said that the College had taken all the necessary measures avert the spread of the disease.