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Six died of Lassa Fever in Bauchi
By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi.
The Bauchi State Government has confirmed that six people have died of the dreaded Lassa fever in the state just as plans are underway to set up a laboratory to ease the difficulties in diagnosing the disease.
This was disclosed by the state Commissioner of health, Dr. Halima Mukaddas while inspecting the Lassa Fever Case Management Centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.
She explained that the state government has procured post exposure equipment to protect staff against contracting the disease, as well as procurement of medication to assist in management of patients.
Dr. Mukaddas said that six suspected cases were tested and the result was positive, saying "We have a total of six confirmed cases, three cases last year and three this year, and all the cases that were confirmed positive have died.
"We have put in place various preventive measures such as sensitizing various communities to create awareness on how to prevent Lassa fever, the state rapid response team that monitor cases to ascertain exposure risk.
"We have identified an establishment in liaison with the Federal government to set up a diagnostic centre in the state so that we don't have to be sending our specimen to Iruwa specialist so that we can access results within while considering the gravity of the disease"
Head of the centre, Dr. Abdurrahman Tahir in his response said that the fever has been a recurrent problem in the state, adding that mortality rate this time around is high.
Tahir called on the state government to set up a diagnostic centre in the state to reduce the dangers posed to staff that carries the sample for investigation at the designated centre.
Six died
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