Taraba records 42 deaths from Lassa fever
From John Mkom, Jalingo No fewer than 42 mortality cases of Lassa fever have been reported at Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jalingo, Taraba State. The deaths occurred between November last
From John Mkom, Jalingo
No fewer than 42 mortality cases of Lassa fever have been reported at Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jalingo, Taraba State.
The deaths occurred between November last year and March, this year, the authorities said.
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The tertiary health facility, which is the biggest hospital in Taraba, is also battling acute shortage of medical doctors to cope with the epidemic.
The Head of Clinical Service of the FMC, Dr. Abubakar Kirim, who spoke with The Nation, stated that Lassa fever is becoming a surge that if not well-handled will be consuming lives daily.
“Lassa fever is an epidemic. Between November 2025 and March 2026, the facility has recorded 230 cases of Lassa fever.
“One hundred and two confirmed cases of the disease were recorded. Ninety-five of the confirmed cases were admitted in the treatment centre of the FMC.Thirty patients were successfully treated and discharged.
“We have recorded 42 mortality cases. A few of the affected persons absconded from the treatment centre.
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“The reason for absconding is that we have shortage of the agents in the test we confirm here, in the period of waiting till when we take samples to either Bauchi or Edo. With the waiting window, they get agitated and abscond,” Kirim said.
Kirim further disclosed that three health workers of the FMC who were battling to save lives were among those affected with the Lassa fever.
He added: “This season, among those affected are health workers here in the FMC. Three health workers were affected, and we lost one of them.
“A doctor and a nurse survived. We discharged them about three days ago, unfortunately one of the drivers that was affected could not make it.”
He added that the hospital is lacking medical doctors to handle the epidemic, calling on quality medical doctors who have interest to work with FMC Jalingo to come forward for identification and proper recruitment.
Kirim urged the stakeholders in the health sector, from the wards to local government areas and state level in Taraba to come together for campaigns to tackle the epidemic.
