No fewer than 50 residents of Taraba State have died from Lassa fever following a surge in infections, as health authorities confirm a severe outbreak of the viral disease.
The outbreak was confirmed at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, where health workers have been managing both suspected and confirmed cases.
Providing details, the Head of Clinical Services at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, Suleiman Kirim, said the hospital recorded a high number of cases during the outbreak.
“We admitted about 226 suspected cases during the period under review, and laboratory tests confirmed 95 of them as Lassa fever infections,” Kirim told correspondents on Wednesday.
He added that the disease proved fatal for many of the confirmed cases.
“Out of the 95 confirmed cases, 50 patients unfortunately died, while 20 others responded to treatment and have since been discharged,” he said.
Kirim further noted that new infections are still being recorded, describing the situation as one of the most serious outbreaks handled by the medical centre in recent years.
“This is the highest number of suspected cases and deaths we have recorded in recent times, which makes the situation particularly concerning for medical personnel,” he added.
Despite the severity of the outbreak, the physician expressed optimism that infection rates may decline in the coming months.
“Transmission of Lassa fever tends to increase during the dry season. With the rainy season approaching, we expect infection rates to decline,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the hospital management said it has strengthened measures to improve healthcare delivery and infection control, including the introduction of structured service packs to standardise medical procedures and enhance patient safety.
According to the management, the use of service packs promotes efficiency, accountability and infection prevention, particularly during outbreaks of infectious diseases such as Lassa fever.
The hospital noted that the system is widely adopted by major tertiary health institutions in Nigeria, including the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, as well as in advanced healthcare systems in countries such as Ghana, the United States, India and South Africa.
Hospital authorities stressed that properly structured service packs are critical in preventing infections and protecting both patients and healthcare workers.
“The absence of sterile and well-structured consumables, or reliance on repeatedly handled materials, increases the risk of disease transmission to healthcare workers and other patients,” the management said.
“Service packs therefore serve as a frontline safeguard for both patients and medical personnel.”
The management also urged members of the public to seek clarification on healthcare-related issues through official communication channels provided by the hospital.
These include the SERVICOM Unit, which is responsible for providing information, addressing complaints and ensuring prompt resolution of public concerns.
“It is important that individuals use these established institutional channels before drawing conclusions, particularly on technical healthcare matters that could cause unnecessary public anxiety,” the management added.
