The government of Taraba State in northern Nigeria has reported an outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

Nigerias Vanguard newspaper report on Monday said that the State Commissioner for Health, Mr. Innocent Vakkai, stated that one person had been confirmed dead, while two others were being observed.

One person died and two others quarantined and their blood samples have already been taken to Irrua Specialists Hospital in Edo State for further confirmation, he said.

Vakkai, however, said that the state government had responded to the outbreak quickly and therefore urged the public not to panic.
According to the Commissioner, people usually get infected with the Lassa Virus after exposure to infected rodents, while person to person transmission occurs through direct contact with the sick person.

Other precautionary measures include putting food in rodent proof containers and wearing protections such as masks, gloves, gowns among others, he added.

He noted that nasal bleeding as well as bleeding through the anus and mouth are among the symptoms of the fever.