Four Die Of Lassa Fever In plateau.

Four persons have died of lassa fever and five cases confirmed in plateau state. It was learnt  yesterday.
Commissioner for health kunden Deyin told News Agency  of Nigeria(NAN) 80 per cent of the mortality  rate was due to late presentation of patients  to health care facilities.
Deyin said: "the mortality  rate is as high as 80 per cent; this is because  people report very late.
Lassa Fever  is best managed  when patients  start taking medication within the first week of contracting  the disease.
The symptoms  are similar  to that of malaria - nausea, body weakness, and joint pains; it is at the advanced stage that bleeding from the eyes,nose,mouth, or private parts  occur".
The commissioner  noted that getting drugs for the treatment is difficult  as it is not sold in the open market, added that the state was trying to access the drugs from the federal  ministry  of health.
According to him, health  care workers in the state are on the red alert and have "hogh index of suspicion ".
The ministry  has also begun sensitization  in jos-bukuru and the 17 local government councils to enlighten  the people on preventive measures,  he adde.