Lassa fever: Gombe urges residents to observe improved hygiene

Gombe State has advised it’s residents to observe improved hygiene as it records three deaths from Lassa fever.

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Gombe State Epidemiologist, Dr. Bile Nuhu made this call this in a telephone interview with news correspondent in Gombe, adding that four other people died without confirmation of their Lassa fever status.

He said, “Now the incidence of the statistics of cases reported in Gombe can be classified into three namely; probable cases, confirmed cases and Suspected cases.

“Statistics show that three confirmed cases have passed on, out of 11 cases. 

“There are also four unconfirmed cases that died. These are four cases that died but were tagged unconfirmed because before their death their blood samples were not gotten and they have been buried hence they were classified as unconfirmed.

“Now also, two cases that their blood samples were taken and their results were been awaited equally passed on. 

“There are also four probable cases they were tagged probable cases because although their blood samples were collected they died before the results came.

“The striking factor is that these probable cases had close contact with a confirmed case who has died as they exhibited same symptoms with their close contact who is dead. 

“The person died but his samples had been taken. Although he exhibited the same symptoms with someone who is a confirmed case, that doesn’t make him a confirmed case.

“If someone was brought into the hospital and his samples were collected and he eventually died. If his result came back positive that can be tagged as a confirmed case but if his result didn’t come back it is a suspected case,” he said.

While urging the public to observe improved hygiene, the epidemiologist, stressed that the remaining eight cases are all responding to treatment, stressing that Lassa fever is becoming an endemic disease.

“By endemic, it means it is now always around, he said. 

He urged residents to always be alert to a fever that refuses to just go. 

“There are four local governments areas namely; Yalmatu Deba, Akko, Kaltungo, and Gombe where the cases were recorded,” Nuhu added.