Lassa Fever Outbreak Claims 50 Lives in Taraba as Cases Surge
The Federal Medical Centre Jalingo has confirmed the deaths of 50 patients following a severe outbreak of Lassa fever in Taraba State.
Head of Clinical Services, Dr. Suleiman Abubakar Kirim, disclosed that the hospital recorded 226 suspected cases, with 95 confirmed through laboratory testing. Of the confirmed infections, 50 patients died, while 20 others were successfully treated and discharged.
He described the situation as the most serious outbreak the facility has experienced in recent years, noting that new cases continue to emerge. According to him, the current figures represent the highest number of suspected infections and fatalities recorded at the centre in recent times.
Dr. Kirim, however, expressed hope that transmission rates would decline with the onset of the rainy season, explaining that infections typically rise during the dry season when human contact with disease-carrying rodents increases.
Meanwhile, hospital management highlighted newly introduced service packs designed to improve standardisation, efficiency, safety, and accountability in healthcare delivery. The initiative, it said, is especially critical in managing infectious disease outbreaks such as Lassa fever.
The system—also in use at major Nigerian institutions like Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, and University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital—ensures the availability of sterile, well-structured medical consumables.
Management stressed that proper infection control measures are vital to protecting both patients and healthcare workers, warning that poorly handled or non-sterile materials could heighten the risk of disease transmission.
The hospital also urged the public to make use of official communication channels, including its SERVICOM unit, for accurate information and timely resolution of concerns, cautioning against misinformation that could trigger unnecessary panic or undermine confidence in healthcare services.
