Lassa Fever Kills Pupil In Jos

A pupil of the Federal Government College, Langtang, Plateau State, has died of Lassa fever. Two others have been hospitalised. Commissioner for Health, Kuden Deyin, who confirmed this yesterday, said: “Yes, there was an outbreak of Lassa Fever at the Federal Government College, Langtang; it has claimed one life, while two others are in the hospital.” Deyin said four pupils were rushed from the school clinic to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). “The pupils showed symptoms of Lassa Fever and we immediately took their blood samples to the Jos University Teaching Hospital, where three tested positive. “One of those who tested positive is dead, while the other two are still on admission at JUTH,” he stated. Deyin said the government had met with the school principal and advised her to halt resumption from the mid-term break. The commissioner advised families with children in the school to observe them and report any symptom to JUTH, Plateau Specialist Hospital or the Bingham University Teaching Hospital. “Any child, who manifests symptoms of fever and bleeding from any part of the body, should be rushed to any of these hospitals for prompt evaluation,” he also stated.