Lassa Fever claims four lives in Nasarawa

Four individuals in Nasarawa state has lost their lives to a suspected spread of Lassa Fever in Awe Local government area of the state.

The tragedy which claimed the lives of two pregnant women occurred in a general hospital in Awe. A Disease Surveillance Officer, Malami Ahmad Yahuza Abdullah, confirmed the incident, revealing that the hospital has been closed down till further notice.

He disclosed that the outbreak started with a woman who was taken to the hospital with the symptoms of the fever. The woman, however, died before receiving treatment. The illness also claimed her husband’s live shortly after.

Abdulahhi attributed the spread of the virus to poor handling and lack of accessible transport system for surveillance officers.

“Poor handling of suspected cases and lack of motorcycles for surveillance officers are major challenges,” he stated.

Dr Peter Attah, the Director of Public Health at the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, claimed that only one case of Lassa fever was recorded in the general hospital in Awe.