Lassa fever claims another victim in Lagos

• Govt monitors 534 contact persons
• State begins vaccination of four million children against measles
• NPHCDA donates eight boats for exercise in Anambra

LAGOS State Government yesterday confirmed that the deadly Lassa fever disease has claimed another life within the state.

The victim, the second death recorded in Lagos, is a 27-year-old lady, who travelled to Edo State on December 24, 2015 and returned to Lagos on January 2, 2016.

State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said the victim became ill on January 14, 2016 and received care in one private hospital and three churches before she was referred on January 23, 2016 to Ijede General Hospital in Ikorodu with fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and body weakness.

“The patient died within a few hours of admission. The case was confirmed as Lassa fever on January 26, 2016,” Idris said.

He explained that Lagos has recorded 20 suspected cases of Lassa fever as at January 26, 2016, with 14 tested negative and four positive of Lassa fever.

The Ministry of Health has listed 537 contacts of the confirmed cases, out of which 534, representing 99 percent of the contacts, currently being closely monitored.

“Ninety persons have been line-listed as contacts as at January 26, 2016 and contact tracing is on-going,” Idris said.

He urged members of the public to be aware that Lassa fever could be contacted through foods and drinks that are contaminated by the saliva, urine and faeces of infected rats.

Dr. Idris, speaking at another forum: the Doctors’ House Groundbreaking/Fundraising ceremony organized by the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN), urged Nigerians to maintain the simple universal basic hygiene as it goes a long way at ensuring their good health.

The commissioner, who urged doctors and other health workers to put on their protective gadgets while dealing with infected persons, while potential suspected cases be put in isolation to avoid spreading the virus to others.

Chairman of the building committee, Dr. J. Adeyeye Arigbabuwo, urged people to block the in-lets and out-lets of rats to ensure they do not come near people, further admonishing them to cover their foods and drinks properly and report any suspected case to the appropriate authority.

Arigbabuwo advised that sanitary inspectors should move round all the parts of the country to ensure that people maintain a healthy environment, adding that the doctors’ building is dedicated to all health workers and centred on healthcare delivery.

Patron of the association, Dr. Ore Falomo, advised Nigerians who eat rats to desist from doing so, as that will lead to easily contracting the virus.

In another development, Lagos State Government will today begin the 2016 measles vaccination exercise across the state.

The exercise, simultaneously holding in all 20 Local Government Area and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LGA/LCDAs), will have trained health officers visit both public and private schools to administer measles vaccines to children.

Still on the fight against measles, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (PHCDA) yesterday, donated eight engine boats of Yamaha brand to the Anambra State Government.