Lassa Fever: Seven cases confirmed in Bauchi

Seven cases of Lassa fever have been confirmed in Bauchi, according to the State Primary Health Care Development Agency.The Executive Secretary of the BSPHCDA, Dr. Rilwan Mohammed, who disclosed this to newsmen at a press briefing in Bauchi yesterday, added that the suspected cases have now risen to 22.

Mohammed said that all the suspected cases have been sent to the National Disease Control Center in Abuja for testing and authentication but added that no death has been recorded in the state this year.He explained that, “The last time we told you that we had 15 suspected cases but as at now, the suspected cases have increased to 22. I also told you last time that we had three confirmed cases, four new cases have been added bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to seven.

“The seven new confirmed cases this year are as follows: Bauchi has two, Tafawa Balewa has two, while Kirfi, Alkaleri and Toro have one case each.“We have two more suspected cases in Giade Local Government and one in Azare, Katagum LGA. We are planning on what to do with Azare because it is close to Kano state and since there is an outbreak there (in Kano), we are now afraid,” he stated.

Mohammed added, “There was a suspected case that was brought there from Giade and the patient was bleeding, so they were confused. We in Bauchi are not panicking; we are trained and this is not new to us in the state. So, we know what to do.”He said that Bauchi State has been helping states like Gombe, Plateau, Kano on what to do with the new cases in their states.

The Executive Secretary, however, warned, “all lassa fever cases should be transported in an ambulance and not in a commercial car because it can be transmitted to those in the vehicle.”He informed that the agency would soon embark on an aggressive campaign through radio and television jingles and other media to sensitise the public on all preventive measures that they need to undertake to stay safe and prevent the disease from spreading.