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Tag: Lassa fever

  • Kwara denies outbreak of Lassa fever

    Kwara denies outbreak of Lassa fever

    The Kwara State government has denied the outbreak of Lassa fever in its 16 councils.

    Commissioner for Health Atolagbe Alege, who confirmed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the government had put in place measures, including sensitisation, to keep the state free of the disease.

    Alege added that a special centre, fully equipped, for the treatment of the disease had been established at the Sobi Specialist Hospital.

    “The ministry took five suspected cases to the University of llorin Teaching Hospital (UlTH) for laboratory analysis; all proved negative,” he said.

    The commissioner hinted that the government had earmarked N222 million for the prevention of diseases, even as he promised that the government would intensify efforts toward preventing outbreak of diseases.

    He advised residents to ensure clean environments to complement the government’s efforts in promoting healthcare.

  • Rivers confirms Lassa fever case

    The Rivers ministry of health has confirmed a case of Lassa fever in a private health facility in the state.

    The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Theophilus Odagme, told journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the patient had been managed, fully recovered and discharged.

    He said the ministry was collaborating with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the private hospital and family of patient to ensure that the process of decontamination and contact are effectively carried out.

    “Right now, we pray it does not pose further threat to the state,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the commissioner as saying on Wednesday.

    “Indeed, we had a patient in a private hospital in the state. The patient was diagnosed and expertly managed and has been discharged.

    “The primary and secondary contacts are being followed and the other processes of decontamination are all on.”

    According to Odagme, the patient did not die while the ministry is doing necessary follow-up

    “We are following up with all the contacts. We are also ready if there are eventualities with the contacts, we will move them to the special centre in Emohua local government,” he said.

    The commissioner advised residents of the state not to panic because the government was on top of the situation.

  • FMC Keffi confirms Lassa fever case

    FMC Keffi confirms Lassa fever case

    Dr Giyan Joshua-Ndom, the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa state, has confirmed that a patient at the centre was suffering from a disease suspected to be Lassa fever.

    Joshua-Ndom told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the centre had reported the matter to the Ministry of Health as well as the Centre for Diseases Control, Abuja.

    “It is true that a suspected case of Lassa fever had been discovered at the centre with a male patient being its victim.

    “But, I want to use this medium to appeal to patients and members of the public to remain calm as necessary steps had been taken to avert the spread of the virus.

    “The patient with the suspected case of Lassa fever had been separated from other patients and we are on top of the situation to curtail the spread of the disease,” he said

    The medical director reaffirmed the commitment of the centre to continue with projects that had a direct bearing on the lives of doctors, other staff and Nigerians at large.

  • Lassa Fever: Ogun places 396 persons under surveillance

    Lassa Fever: Ogun places 396 persons under surveillance

    The Ogun Commissioner for Health Dr. Babatunde Ipaye has said that 396 people that had primary and secondary contacts with the Assistant Chief Nursing Officer of Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Idi- Aba in Abeokuta, who died of Lassa fever have been traced and placed under surveillance in case they develop symptoms of the disease.

    Ipaye  made this known during an official commissioning of Shoremekun Memorial Hospital (Blue Star) at Ifo Local Government Area of the State, yesterday.

    The Commissioner said that the primary contacts are majorly members of the late victim’s family, while the secondary contacts are the victim’s co-workers in the hospital particularly those in her department.

    He noted that none of the contacts have shown abnormal temperature since they began monitoring them and said the medical officers attached to each of the contacts would continue to monitor until the specified period in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.

    The affected people could be medically adjudged to be free of the disease when they exceed the observation period.

    “All the 396 contacts have not shown any abnormal symptoms or signs of Lassa fever, their temperature is under control and we have stationed our monitoring officer with each of the contacts to continue monitoring throughout a specific period in line with the World Health Organisation standard,” he said.

    The Commissioner urged members of the public not to panic, assuring that the government was on top of the situation.

    He however advised the people to cultivate high level of hygiene, keep their food away from rats and advised members of the public to report any case of malaria symptoms that may have exceeded three days to the nearest General Hospital, the Ministry of Health, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta or call the following dedicated lines; 09099140121 and 09099140122.

  • Lassa Fever: Ogun places 396 people under surveillance

    The Ogun Commissioner for Health Dr. Babtunde Ipaye has said that 396 people that had primary and secondary contacts with the Assistant Chief Nursing Officer of Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Idi- Aba in Abeokuta, who died of Lassa fever have been traced and placed under surveillance in case they develop symptoms of the disease.

    Ipaye  made this known during an official commissioning of Shoremekun Memorial Hospital (Blue Star) at Ifo Local Government Area of the State, yesterday.

    The Commissioner said that the primary contacts are majorly members of the late victim’s family, while the secondary contacts are the victim’s co-workers in the hospital, particularly those in her department.

    He noted that none of the contacts have shown abnormal temperature  since they began monitoring them and said the medical officers attached to each of the contacts would continue to monitor until the specified period in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.

    The affected people could be medically adjudged to be free of the disease when they exceed the observation period.

    “All the 396 contacts have not shown any abnormal symptoms or signs of Lassa fever. Their temperature is under control and we  have stationed our monitoring officer with each of the contacts to continue monitoring throughout a specific period in line with the World Health Organisation standard,” he said.

    The Commissioner urged members of the public not to panic,  assuring that the government was on top of the situation.

    He however advised the people to cultivate high level of hygiene, keep their food away from rats and advised members of the public to report any case of malaria symptoms that may have exceeded three days to the nearest General Hospital, the Ministry of Health, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta or call the following dedicated lines; 09099140121 and 09099140122.

  • Lassa fever kills chief nurse, others

    Lassa fever kills chief nurse, others

    An Assistant Chief Nursing Officer of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and one other person have died of Lassa fever.
    Commissioner for Health Babatunde Ipaye urged residents not to panic, saying the panic was presumptuous and unnecessary.
    He said the disease could only be transmitted by contact with the body fluid of a victim.
    The commissioner added that all those who may have had contact with the victims have been placed under surveillance.
    Ipaye said the Ministry of Health in collaboration with FMC would set up an isolation centre at the hospital.
    “We are going to create an isolation centre here at FMC to cater for unexpected cases and emergency on public health issues such as Lassa fever. I have sent medical officers out to confirm the root of the case,” he said

  • Lassa fever: Ogun creates Isolation Centre

    Lassa fever: Ogun creates Isolation Centre

    Following the death of two health officers of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Abeokuta, the state government said it had taken steps to create an Isolation Centre to cater for cases of Lassa fever.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, said this while speaking with newsmen on Tuesday in Abeokuta.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lassa fever had on Monday, claimed the lives of an Assistant Chief Nursing Officer and a Mortuary Attendant.

    The commissioner said the ministry in collaboration with FMC, would quickly set up an Isolation Centre at the premises to attend to emergencies of such.

    He urged nurses to always attend to all patients in the most hygienically acceptable manner.

    Ipaye said the state government had always been proactive on issues relating to public health, adding that it had never recorded any case of Lassa Fever “except for the two cases imported to from Ebonyi and Kogi, who later died at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) a few months ago’’,

    He allayed the fear of members of staff of the hospital, saying it did not call for “unnecessary panic’’.

    “We are going to immediately create an Isolation Centre here at FMC to cater for unexpected cases and emergency on public health issues like Lassa fever to include other communicable diseases.

    “We have also sent officers out to confirm the root cause of the cases,’’ the commissioner said.

    Ipaye said a continuous sensitization “is ongoing on the need for the public to keep maintaining a high sense of medical and personal hygiene’’.

    “We need to get rid of rats in and around the house and ensure all food stuff are well covered at all times and constant hand washing,’’ he said.

  • No vaccine for Lassa fever prevention yet – NCDC

    No vaccine for Lassa fever prevention yet – NCDC

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says that there is no vaccine that is clinically proven to be effective in the prevention of Lassa fever at the moment.

    Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Chief Executive Officer of NCDC told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that the only medical tool available to combat the disease for now was called Ribavrin.

    According to Ihekweazu, Ribavrin is a medicine if given early to patients who are infected with Lassa will protect, prevent death as well as further spread.

    He noted that early detection was key in saving affected patients with Lassa virus and protecting others.

    “Unlike Ebola, the good thing with Lassa is that there is a treatment available but the treatment has to be given early.

    “For instance, if you keep treating malaria for three weeks before testing and discovering it is Lassa, and you administer Ribavrin at the fourth week then it is unlikely that you will succeed.

    “But if Lassa is detected early and treatment commences at once, the patient will be saved and it will also help prevent transmission to others,’’ he said.

    Ihekweazu pointed out that Ribavrin as a drug could be administered in drug form to treat contacts.

    “If you have a known case of Lassa and the patient have had contacts, we give Ribavrin to the contacts to prevent them from getting it but sadly there is no vaccine yet.

    “We have Ribavrin available in the FCT and we are currently deploying and prepositioning it in all the state capitals in Nigeria

    “So that the states can have access to the drugs when they need it and we will only supply it in emergency cases when they run out,” he said.

    The NCDC boss explained that Lassa was endemic in the country, adding that there would always be cases of Lassa fever until “we are able to prevent it’’.

    He emphasised the need for people to report suspected cases of Lassa fever to enable NCDC to respond swiftly.

    He said that the primary responsibility for response lie with the state government, noting that the centre’s role was to support the states.

    “There are circumstances where there is a bigger outbreak, that is when we actually go physically to the states to support them, but we can’t do that for all the states at all times.

    “Recently, we supported cases in Delta and Plateau state by going there ourselves and sending a team to support them physically at the state level.

    “For Ondo state, we did a risk assessment and we found out that they are capable of doing this themselves and they have been on top of it, so we give them support from Abuja.

    “We have done assessments in the states in terms of their capacity to respond because they are the closest to the patients, we are supporting the states and they are doing the following.

    “Awareness programmes are one of the methods some of the states are using to prevent Lassa virus, they run advertisements on radio, television and do some community education programmes.

    “People think about Lassa in terms of bleeding but that happens at a very late stage, as most patients will have the normal features of fever and malaria,’’ he said.

     

  • Lassa fever: 13 persons under observation in Delta

    The Delta State government has disclosed that 13 persons are still under observation in the state to determine whether they will test positive to Lassa fever or not.

    A statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information. Mr. Patrick Ukah, said that the 13 persons will be closely monitored for one more week.

    According to the statement, out of the 55 contacts in the state, 32 have been declared free of the disease.

    Ukah stated that the sensitization and advocacy programme in local government areas, primary health care centers, schools and market places, among others, will be intensified to achieve the desired result.

    He advised all persons living in the state to keep their environment clean and cultivate appropriate sanitary behaviours.

    Meanwhile, the state government has approved the contract for the construction of Issele-Uku/Onicha-Uku/Ugbodu/Nkwu-Nzu/Obomkpa/Idumu-Ogo roads in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state.

    The state Commissioner for Information, Patrick Ukah, who disclosed this after the state Executive Council meeting in Asaba on Thursday, said that the first phase of the project will be the completion of the 6.65 km road from Idumu-Ogo to Obomkpa.

    The information commissioner said that the approval of the contract was in line with the determination of the state government to link rural communities to the urban centers.

  • Lassa fever: Delta places 13 under observation

    The Delta State Government has said at least 13 persons are now under observation over Lassa fever –related illness in some health facilities across the state.

    A statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information. Mr. Patrick Ukah, said the 13 persons will be closely monitored for one more week.

    According to the statement, out of 55 contacts in the state, 32 have been declared free of the disease.

    Mr. Ukah stated the sensitization and advocacy to local government areas, Primary Health Care Centers, schools and market places, among others, will not just continue, but will be intensified to achieve the desired result.

    He advised all persons living in the state to keep their environment clean and cultivate appropriate sanitary behaviours.