Lassa fever outbreak claims 50 lives in Taraba as cases surge in Jalingo

At least 50 people have died following a Lassa fever outbreak at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Jalingo, Taraba State, marking one of the most severe outbreaks recorded at the facility.

The Head of Clinical Services, Dr. Suleiman Abubakar Kirim, disclosed this while speaking to journalists, noting that the hospital has so far managed 226 suspected cases. Of these, 95 were confirmed through laboratory testing.

According to him, 50 of the confirmed patients died, while 20 others have recovered and been discharged. He added that new infections are still being reported, raising concerns about the scale of the outbreak.

Dr. Kirim described the situation as the worst in recent years but expressed optimism that infections may begin to decline with the onset of the rainy season, as Lassa fever transmission is typically higher during the dry season.

Hospital management said measures have been introduced to strengthen response efforts, including the use of structured “service packs” designed to improve efficiency, safety, and accountability in patient care.

The management emphasised that such systems are critical in tackling recurring infectious disease outbreaks like Lassa fever, particularly in preventing transmission within healthcare settings.

It noted that service packs—containing sterile and standardised consumables—are widely used in major tertiary health institutions across Nigeria and in other countries, helping to reduce infection risks for both patients and healthcare workers.

Officials warned that inadequate infection control materials or reliance on repeatedly handled equipment could increase the risk of disease spread, underscoring the need for strict adherence to safety protocols as the outbreak continues.