The Plateau state government has confirmed that Lassa fever, which was earlier this week identified in some states in the North, has spread to five local governments of Jos North, Mangu, Langtang South, Pankshin, and Shendam of Plateau state, killing at least one victim.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr, Kuden Kamshak, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen in his office in Jos on Friday however called for calm as the state is doing everything to contain the deadly viral disease.

Kamshak said, “The state government has established Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNO) in each of the 17 local government areas in the state to monitor and manage the current challenge.

“We are also working with medical experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) who are assisting the state to curb the spread.”

He added, “As you are all aware, the Federal Ministry of Health has confirmed that the country has been experiencing Lassa Fever outbreak in the past few weeks in some states including Bauchi, Nassarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Edo and Oyo states.

“Lassa Fever is a zoonotic disease, which means that humans become infected by contact with infected animals. The animal host of the virus is a rodent (rat), which spreads the virus through its urine and faeces.

“Person to person transmission occurs both in communities where people live in clusters and spread faster in such crowded environments, especially under poor sanitary conditions.”

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Lassa fever claims one in Plateau, spreads to 5 Local Governments