Since the outbreak of a new virus in China, the country has officially confirmed more than 4,500 cases of the new virus with 106 deaths.
According to reports, the central city of Wuhan where the outbreak began in December recorded more of the cases.
More than 45 cases have been confirmed in other places with nearly all of them involving Chinese tourists or people who visited Wuhan recently.
As at Tuesday, 4, 515 cases were recorded on the mainland of China with 1,771 of those newly confirmed within 24 hours.
In addition, Hong Kong has eight cases and Macao has five. Nearly all of the 106 deaths have been in central Hubei province, but the new total includes the first death in Beijing.
Lassa fever: Taraba records four deaths
Similarly, the scourge of Lassa fever is ravaging some parts of Nigeria.
Taraba state among some states has recorded its first casualty of the contagious disease with four persons confirmed dead.
The Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr Innocent Vakkai, told Journalists in Jalingo that 15 suspected cases were tested and five turned out positive, out of which, four died.
According to the commissioner, the state government has activated its surveillance system for more case detection and proper treatment.
He noted that efforts were ongoing to create awareness among residents of the state to enlighten them about the symptoms of the disease.
He regretted that challenges such as late report of cases to hospitals and the difficult terrain of the state remained major problems to the management of the disease in Taraba.
He revealed that the Federal Ministry of Health promised to provide testing machines, but that the state government may acquire its equipment to reduce waiting time between suspicion and confirmation.
Meanwhile, the Acting Head, Clinical Services of Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, Dr Ahmed Jatau, said “a medical doctor tested positive.”
He explained that the doctor, a house officer, was currently undergoing treatment at Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo.
“We sent 10 suspected cases for test and six tested positive and out of the six confirmed cases, four died even before their results came in.
“Out of the remaining two, one has been discharged while the other, who is our own staff, has been transferred to Irrua specialist hospital in Edo for further treatment.
“We have also fumigated the house officers’ quarters against rodents.”
