A medical doctor at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo has contracted the deadly infection, Lassa fever.The acting Head, Clinical Service of the Hospital, Dr Ahmed Jatau at a parley with newsmen said the doctor is an in-house officer.
Correspondent Owolabi Adenusi reports that Lassa fever has so far killed four in Taraba State with six persons testing positive.
The Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo has been designated a quarantine centre for treatment of the disease. Four suspected cases have so far died, while one of the doctors involved in treating the virus has been infected.
The State government is concerned that the Lassa virus is spreading. The commissioner for health disclosed that the federal government is partnering with the state government to contain the spread.
Residents attribute the spread of the disease to poor hygiene. Medical experts believe the aggressive campaign embarked upon by state’s ministries of environment and health, will go along way in curbing the spread of Lassa fever in the state.
