TheCable

Rilwanu Mohammed, chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA), says 19 people have died of Lassa fever in Toro and Tafawa Balewa local government areas of the state.

Mohammed said the state has confirmed 22 positive cases of yellow fever in Ganjuwa local government area after 63 samples were tested.

The Nation quoted the chairman on Wednesday as saying the state is in receipt of four million doses of yellow fever vaccine from the federal government.

According to him, vaccination against yellow fever will commence in January 2021 — with the target population of ages one to 44 who are thought to be the most vulnerable.

He said the vaccination will be conducted in 19 local government areas in the state with the exception of Alkaleri which had its immunisation in 2019 following an outbreak in the area.

Mohammed said measures are being put in place to ensure that the outbreak of yellow fever does not spread to other local government areas and neighbouring states.

He lamented that many residents of Bauchi are refusing to be vaccinated despite the enlightenment programmes embarked upon by his agency.