BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The Bauchi State Government on Thursday announced that 19 people have died of Lassa fever in the State.
This is even as two persons that hitherto tested positive to Coronavirus disease in the state, have recovered having tested negative and discharged from treatment facility.
These were announced in Bauchi by the Chairman of the State Rapid Response Taskforce on COVID-19 and Lassa Fever, Senator Baba Tela, who also disclosed that the State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed has approved the immediate release of of N25m for the fight against Lassa Fever that has ravaged the state in the recent time claiming many lives in the process.
Senator Tela, who is also the Deputy Governor of the State confirmed that so far, 19 people have died of Lassa fever infection in the state declaring that the dreaded Lassa Fever is more deadly than the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tela also said that two more COVID-19 infection positive index cases in the state have tested negative after 14 days treatment thereby bringing the number of discharged COVID-19 cases to three in the state including the State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed.
The chairman of the State Rapid Response Taskforce on COVID-19 and Lassa Fever, also said that all the six index positive cases in the state have tested negative after the second sample tests at the NCDC in Abuja.
Tela explained that Bauchi State now has two active index cases and expressed optimism that the two would soon be discharged from treatment Center for the COVID-19 infection.
The Deputy Governor said that a total of 140 contacts of the index cases are being followed for sample testing in order to curtail the spread of the infection in the state and therefore called on people who had contact with the positive index cases to come out for sample tests.
Tela said that the state has been able to procure 1000 pieces of medium used to convey the samples to NCDC office in Abuja for tests, adding that the development will now ease transporting of the sample.
He also announced the closure of two popular second hand clothes markets until further notice to avoid the spread of the infection in the state considering the fact that those dealing in the wares come from different parts of the country.
Meanwhile, a high powered committee has been set up under the Chairmanship of the Chief of Staff to Governor Mohammed, Dr Ladan Salihu for the establishment of a testing center in Bauchi to facilitate sample testing considering the distance between Bauchi and Abuja.
