By Kola Adeyemi
Ibadan – Oyo State government has confirmed the death of two medical doctors and one other hospital staff as a result of Lassa fever.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bode Ladipo, who made the confirmation in a statement said that the deceased were among four health workers earlier confirmed positive for Lassa fever.
He said that the two doctors and the hospital staff died in spite of all efforts at caring for them by experts.
Ladipo explained that the state has so far recorded 19 confirmed cases, saying that resources have been deployed to designated health facilities to forestall its spread.
“Surveillance activities have been heightened at the grassroots across the State, adding that access to care has been provided to all individuals at risk of this disease.
“Individuals having symptoms such as fever, sore throat, vomiting, general body weakness, chest pain, back pain, cough, diarrhea, swollen face, eyes or neck, stomach pain or bleeding from ear, eyes, nose, mouth or from other body openings to report promptly to the nearest health facility or call the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on 08095394000 or 08095863000,” the statement said.
Ladipo implored residents to avoid contact with rats, contaminated of food items by rat feces, urine, and other body fluid while maintaining strict personal and environmental hygiene.
“The virus causing this disease is transmitted from infected rats to humans or an infected human to other humans,” he stated.
The commissioner charged all health facilities across the state to maintain a high index of suspicion and report all suspected cases to the LGAs or State Health Authorities, adding that the provision of qualitative health care is a joint responsibility of all.
The government confirmation came just as the authorities of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, raised an alarm over a fresh outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria.
The UCH raised the alarm in a circular addressed to all its staff.
“This is to draw the attention of the entire members of staff to the current outbreak of Lassa fever in the country.
“According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the most affected States are Ondo, Edo and Bauchi.
“Since the beginning of 2022, a total number of 1,992 suspected Lassa fever cases have been recorded in 33 States, majorly in Ondo, Edo, Bauchi, Benue, Taraba, Ebonyi, Oyo and Enugu States.
“As at 18th February 2022, the total number of confirmed cases was 450, with 86 deaths recorded. About 30 health care workers are affected.
“A laboratory confirmed case is an outbreak. It is highly infectious and can transmit via contact with a confirmed case or dead body of a probable case. The incubation period is 6 to 21 days.
“The Hospital Management therefore uses this medium to alert all clinicians and other members of staff on the need to have a high index of suspicion, particularly at the entry points of the hospital – emergency wards, clinics and general outpatient.
“Detailed history of travel and contact with a sick or dead person is important while assessing all suspected cases using the standard case definition for viral haemorrhagic fevers,” the circular stated.(vitalnews)
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