Friday Olokor, Jos

Three weeks after Lassa fever killed a student of the Federal Government Girls’ College, Lantang, Faith Bako, the Plateau State Government, has confirmed a fresh case in Garkawa, Mikang Local Government Area.

But the government which also confirmed a case of Dengue fever,  advised the public to report any case of Lassa fever to the appropriate health agencies.

The Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kamshak Kudeng, confirmed the fourth case of Lassa fever in an interview with The PUNCH in Jos on Wednesday.

He said, “We had three girls from the FGGC, Lantang, one died, two were on admission and one has been discharged. But now, we have another gentleman from Garkawa in Mikang Local Government Area who is now on admission at the Jos University Teaching Hospital. He is also recovering.

“Then, we have a lady whose blood is among the five samples we sent. The result of her test came back and it was Dengue fever, not Lassa fever. Dengue fever is spread by mosquitoes.

“Lantang and Garkawa are on the same axis in Plateau State. We have given drugs to the patients; we have followed up the primary and secondary contacts. We have delisted most of them from our list after we watched them for up to 21 days.”

While advising the public to embrace good hygiene, Kudeng said doctors, nurses and health workers should maintain a high index of suspicion.

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