Seven people have reportedly died in Taraba State, following an outbreak of lassa fever a couple of days ago.

The state Commissioner for Health, Prince Mustapha Hamman Gabdo, comfirmed this while briefing journalists in the state.

The commissioner said four of the victims of the disease died at the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, one died at the Government House Clinic, Jalingo, and the two others, who contracted the disease in Taraba State died in Gombe State after travelling there for treatment.

He said the ministry had already taken measures to stop the spread of the epidemic and would embark on sensitisation campaigns as well as vaccinate the entire people of the state against the disease.

Shedding more light on the source of the dreaded fever and its dangers to human beings, the head of Epidemiology unit in the state Ministry of Health, Innocent Vakai, said the disease was transmitted by a specific rat which had no hair on its tail.

The Epidemiologist said the symptoms of Lassa Fever included severe headache, high fever, vomits that passed through all the openings in the human body, just as he advised persons having such symptoms to rush to the nearest hospital for medical attention.

Similary, the Taraba State House of Assembly, on Thursday, summoned an urgent public importance sitting, followed reported cases of outbreak of Lassa fever in Jalingo, the state capital.

Member representing Gembu Constituency, Honorable Abubakar Jugidda, who disclosed this before the assembly, stressed the need for the state government to look into the issue immediately to control the epidemic to save lives.

The law maker urged the house to impress on the state government to direct the ministry of health to provide the necessary drugs to the victims of the disease.

Honorable Jugulde also advised the house to embark on an enlightment campaign to educate the people of the danger of the diseases and ways of preventing same.

Other members who commented on the issue, seconded the motion describing the disease as a dangerious thing to mankind that needed urgent attention.

The members, Mark Useni, Josiah Sabo Kente and Abubakar Lawal regretted the alarming rate the disease was claiming lives within and outside the state and urged the state government to take proactive step to address the issue.

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