Health authorities in northern Nigeria say that Lassa fever has killed 13 people since it was first diagnosed in Taraba state a week ago. The deaths were reported mostly at the Federal Medical Center in Jalingo, which was forced to close some of its units after the outbreak, Xinhua reported. Mustapha Hamman-Gabdo, the state commissioner for health, said some people admitted to the center for different ailments later were diagnosed with Lassa fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus and transmitted primarily though contact with rats' excreta. Innocent Vakai, the state epidemiologist, said the outbreak apparently started in Mayo-Ranewo village in Ardo-Kola and spread after a villager was brought to the center for treatment. Vakai advised people to keep their environment clean and ensure that their food was not contaminated by rats.
