From VICTOR GAI, Jalingo
At least 18 lives have been lost to Lassa Fever in Taraba State so far this year while a medical doctor escaped by the whiskers recently after undergoing treatment for the disease.
This was disclosed recently by the Acting Head of Clinical Services, Federal Medical Centre Jalingo, Dr. Joseph Kumi, while responding to questions from a team of journalists.
According to him, between January and February alone, the centre had sent 105 samples for testing, out of which 60 came out positive while 39 were negative. He said the remaining ones were still being awaited.
He also disclosed that samples were being tested in either Abuja or Bauchi since the centre’s molecular laboratory got burnt.
Kumi stated: “It is true that one of our doctors was affected. In fact, he was discharged last Saturday”.
Kumi further lamented on the relatively high cases of the disease this year which he described as challenging.
He added: “The fact is that this year, the number of patients that were presented to the centre was actually on the high side compared to previous seasons and that is why it is a challenging thing to us. In fact, we have written for more assistance from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the state government despite the fact that they have been doing well in assisting us.
“The number keeps increasing. Presently, we have 10 patients in our isolation wards, out of which some of the results are still being awaited”.
Kumi added that the centre usually educates their patients about the disease and on quick response, whether they tested positive or negative.
He therefore urged the people to maintain good hygiene and desist from exposing their food to “rats that are the main carriers of the disease.”
