Following the recent outbreak of Lassa fever across the country, three new cases of Lassa fever have been recorded in Bauchi state.
This development has been confirmed on Friday, January 24 by the Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed.
Dr Mohammed disclosed that the state has been on high surveillance after the disease claimed some lives in Kano State including some health workers.
He however admitted that some health workers in the state are frightened due to recent outbreak. Mohammed said;
“This year, we have 15 suspected cases of Lassa fever – three confirmed cases out of the suspected … One thing that is giving us concern is no vaccine for it, we have only treatment of the contact and prophylaxis for the contact and then treatment of cases.
“So, doctors are afraid, and the nurses are also afraid but there is what we call universal safety precaution.
“Unless you touch this patient, unless you touch the secretion; so you have to wear your gloves, you have to make sure that you protect yourself from contact with the secretion.”
It was further learnt that the disease was prevalent in three local governments; Bauchi, Toro, and Tafawa Balewa and no death has been recorded in Bauchi state.
