Lassa fever: Six Deaths, 76 Cases Recorded In Gombe

At least, six deaths and 76 suspected Lassa fever cases had been reported in a new outbreak in the Kaltungo Local Government Area of Gombe State.

It was learnt that the outbreak happened at an almajiri school in Dogon Ruwa ward of the LGA.

Comfort Dalami, the Coordinator of Primary Health Care in Kaltungo LG, made this known during an advocacy visit by a team of the Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency to the palace of Mai Kaltungo, Sale Mohammed.

According to her, she disclosed that when five students of the almajiri school became ill and were taken to a hospital.

In her words: “At first, they were suspected to be suffering from meningitis, but when their samples were taken and examined, it was confirmed to be Lassa fever.

“The five suspected cases were confirmed dead while their teacher, who was catering for them, also fell ill after their death on Sunday; it was confirmed that the teacher also tested positive to Lassa fever and later died that same day.”

She further revealed that the team had begun a sensitisation programme in the community while the team of state epidemiologists had also embarked on tracing suspected cases and those who came in contact with the confirmed cases in the Dogon Ruwa community.

She also said an isolation centre had been established to treat confirmed and suspected cases in the area.

“One confirmed case is currently receiving treatment and the samples of 76 other suspected cases have been sent for confirmation,” she stated.