Photo: Radio Okapi/ Ph. John Bompengo

Tests in a medical laboratory.

Birnin Kebbi — The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Birnin Kebbi has said that Lassa fever outbreak has not been established in the state.

Public Relations Officer of the FMC, Abdulmumin Bawa Yauri, who spoke to Daily Trust yesterday in Birnin Kebbi, said samples have been taken to the World Health Organization (WHO) office in the state to ascertain if Lassa fever was responsible for the death of four members of a family in Jega recently.

"It is the outcome of the result from WHO that will ascertain whether it is Lassa fever or not. On Tuesday, February 19, 2013, a yet to be identified disease broke out in a family in Jega Local Government Area of the state. A total of seven members of the same family were affected. Four died within 42 hours, while three are presently stable and receiving treatment at the hospital. Samples from the patients who died at home have been taken to the WHO office for analysis. The outcome of the test is being awaited, and the case has been officially reported to the Federal Ministry of Health," he said.

Former chairman of Jega Local Government, Alhaji Lawal Buhari Jega, told newsmen that his child, Abdurrahman Buhari, died after suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea.

"The younger sister of the deceased, Rahama Buhari, died after complaining of headache and cold when she returned from school. Few hours later, my father in-law called to inform me that five others were ill and had been taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kebbi", he said.

The Director of Health Services in the state Ministry of Health, Dr. Aminu Haliru Bunza, confirmed that the ministry, in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO) has taken samples of the victims for test.