Suspected Lassa fever has claimed the lives of four people, including two pregnant women, in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, raising fresh concerns about public health safety and emergency response in the state.
The outbreak, which occurred in Awe town, has led to the shutdown of the General Hospital in the area and the isolation of health workers, including the medical superintendent, as a precautionary measure. Residents are now living in fear as authorities and health officials struggle to contain the situation.
Lassa fever is a viral disease that is common in some parts of Nigeria, especially during the dry season. It is usually spread through contact with food or household items contaminated by urine or faeces of infected rats. It can also be transmitted from person to person through contact with bodily fluids of an infected person, especially in health care settings where protective equipment is lacking.
Speaking on the incident, Malami Ahmad Yahuza Abdullah, a Disease Surveillance Officer, explained how the outbreak began. According to him, the first suspected case involved a woman who was brought to a health facility in Awe with symptoms believed to be Lassa fever.
“She died before receiving proper treatment,” Abdullahi said. “Later, her husband also died after showing similar symptoms.”
He explained that the situation worsened due to poor handling of suspected cases and the lack of basic tools for surveillance officers, especially motorcycles needed to reach remote communities quickly.
“None of the Disease Surveillance Officers across the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa State has been provided with motorcycles by the government,” Abdullahi said. “This is affecting our ability to respond promptly, especially in rural areas.”
According to him, delayed response can increase the spread of infectious diseases like Lassa fever, especially in communities with limited access to health care.
Health workers at the Awe General Hospital described a frightening situation, saying they were exposed to danger due to the absence of protective equipment such as gloves, face masks, and protective clothing.
A nurse at the hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that two women were brought to the hospital almost at the same time with symptoms that initially looked like malaria.
“At first, we thought it was malaria because that is common,” the nurse said. “But their condition became worse. They started bleeding and had signs of hemorrhage. Before we could do much, they died.”
The nurse confirmed that both women were pregnant, adding to the shock and sadness of the incident.
Health workers said they are now living in fear, worried that they may have been exposed to the virus while attending to patients without proper protection. This fear led to the isolation of several staff members, including the medical superintendent, as a safety measure.
The state government reportedly sent an ambulance to Awe to convey six suspected cases to Lafia, the state capital, for isolation and further testing. However, Abdullahi alleged that the suspected patients escaped before laboratory test results were released.
This development has raised serious questions about the handling of the outbreak and the ability of health authorities to enforce isolation measures during public health emergencies.
Residents of Awe have expressed concern over the shutdown of the only major public hospital in the area. Many fear that access to health care has now become even more difficult, especially for pregnant women, children, and the elderly.
“We are scared,” said a resident. “The hospital is closed, people are dying, and we don’t even know who is infected.”
Lassa fever outbreaks are not new in Nasarawa State. The state has recorded several cases in the past, especially during the harmattan season when the disease is more common. Health experts often warn that poor sanitation, overcrowding, and weak health systems contribute to the spread of the disease.
Despite these warnings, challenges such as lack of funding, shortage of trained staff, and poor equipment continue to affect disease control efforts in many states.
Reacting to the situation, the Director of Public Health at the Nasarawa State Ministry of Health, Dr Peter Attah, gave a different account of the outbreak. He said that only one confirmed case of Lassa fever was recorded in Awe.
According to Dr Attah, the patient died before laboratory test results were released, making it difficult to confirm additional cases officially.
He did not, however, deny that deaths occurred or that health workers were placed on isolation as a precaution.
Health workers in Awe have called on the state and federal governments to urgently provide protective equipment, improve disease surveillance, and support frontline workers who risk their lives during outbreaks.
They also urged the government to strengthen emergency response systems and ensure that suspected cases are properly managed to prevent further loss of lives.
As investigations continue, residents of Awe and surrounding communities remain anxious, hoping that the outbreak will be contained quickly and that lessons will be learned to prevent similar incidents in the future.