No fewer than four people, including two pregnant women, have reportedly died from suspected cases of Lassa fever in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Following the outbreak, the General Hospital in Awe was temporarily closed, and health workers, including the Medical Superintendent, were placed under isolation.

Ahmad Abdullahi, the area’s Disease Surveillance Officer, said alarm was raised when a woman exhibiting Lassa fever-like symptoms was brought to the hospital and died shortly before receiving treatment. Days later, her husband also passed away after showing similar symptoms.

Abdullahi blamed poor handling of suspected cases as a major challenge, noting that some patients referred to Lafia for isolation reportedly escaped.

“None of the disease surveillance officers across the state’s 13 local government areas has been provided with motorcycles, which hampers quick response in remote communities. The state sent an ambulance to convey six suspected cases to Lafia for isolation, but they escaped before lab results were released,” he said.

Ovey Polycarp, a nurse at the hospital, called for urgent provision of protective equipment for health workers. She explained that the two women initially presented with malaria-like symptoms, which rapidly worsened to bleeding and haemorrhage, resulting in their deaths.

“We live in constant fear because we lack the necessary protective gear to manage such outbreaks,” she said.

Dr. Peter Attah, Director of Public Health at the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, confirmed only one laboratory-confirmed case in Awe LGA. He said the patient died before test results were released.

Authorities have commenced fumigation at the General Hospital to curb the spread of the virus to nearby communities.