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            Gombe State has recorded 32 new suspected Lassa fever cases, five victims were confirmed with the virus, out of which one person died, an official Ministry of Health said. Dr Nuhu Bile, an Epidemiologist in the ministry stated this yesterday in Gombe during a sensitisation meeting with the media on Lassa fever at the state Specialists Hospital. Between January and March, 2019 the state Primary Healthcare Development Agency had reported 32 new suspected cases, five cases were confirmed, four discharged and one person died,” he said. Dr Bile said for every suspected case, clinical analysis was made to confirm and commence free treatment immediately.
            He said the state government had in collaboration with UNICEF provided free drugs to the victims. He added that the confirmed cases of the Lassa fever are kept at isolation centres in Specialists hospital and the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe. The epidemiologist said Lassa fever outbreak mostly occurs during dry season from the month of January to April. Bile advised residents to be more proactive to issues of personal hygiene to deter rats from homes and urgently report suspected cases to nearest hospitals and health centres. He said 150 out of 5000 patients die of the virus annually in West Africa. He further stated that no fewer than 20 patients had lost their lives to the Lassa fever in neighbouring Bauchi state in the first quarter of 2019 alone.