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Tag: Lassa fever

  • Lassa fever claims 14 lives in Taraba

    Lassa fever claims 14 lives in Taraba

    Lassa fever has claimed 14 lives in Taraba from January to date, an official has said.

    Dr Aisha Sani, the Chairperson, Lassa Fever Committee in the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Jalingo.

    According to her, of the 49 suspected cases of the disease reported in the hospital, 21 persons were treated and discharged.

    However, she disclosed that seven suspected Lassa fever patients on admission in the hospital had fled the facility.

    “Seven persons had absconded. We are making frantic efforts to arrest and bring them back to the hospital before they infect others with the disease.

    “We have our internal securities here, but the truth is that we need more to secure the Lassa fever unit,” Sani said.

    The doctor said laboratory test had so far confirmed four cases of the disease, while four suspected cases were referred to the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua, Edo.

    “The four patients had already developed kidney failure and you know we don’t have dialysis section here.

    “Let me use this medium to appeal to the Federal Government to provide a dialysis unit in this hospital so that we can save lives,” she said.

    Sani said the hospital was currently handling two cases of the disease, adding that the worst affected areas in the state were Jalingo, Ardo-Kola and Bali local government areas.

    NAN recalls that the FMC officially confirmed the first death of three persons of Lassa fever disease on Jan. 5.

     

  • Lassa Fever: Rotary mulls cleaner environment

    Lassa Fever: Rotary mulls cleaner environment

    With an increasing concern about a clean and disease free environment, the need to ensure a safer environmental condition has become the business of all. Now, in keying into this campaign for a cleaner and safer environment, the Rotary Club of Ikeja, District 9110, has donated environmental/sanitary equipment to the Obada/Ipodo market community in Ikeja, Lagos State. Items donated include big waste disposal bins of different sizes, rakes, modern brooms, parkers and packs of face masks.

    The President, Rotary Club, Ikeja District 9110, Mr. Tosin Kadiri, while making the presentation, explained that the choice of donating sanitary items was borne out of the passion and need to consciously imbibe a culture of having a clean and healthy environment in the people.

    According to him, the recent outbreak of Lassa fever can be linked to the preponderance of unclean environment. He also warn against the Zika Virus, which is currently ravaging countries of South America.

    “We just finished battling Ebola and almost immediately, we are been faced with another disease-Lassa fever. We all know Lassa fever is as a result of filthy environment, and if we don’t have a very filthy environment we won’t have rats everywhere,” kadiri said.

    Explaining its choice of items donated, the Club president explained that a need assessment was carried out on the community and it was discovered that the Obada Ipodo market lack waste disposal bins. “They don’t have a central collection point where they can put their waste and if you don’t dispose your waste properly that is the beginning of all these problems. So with this discovery the Club now decided to procure the sanitary items for them,” he explained.

    Presenting the items, a past president of the Club, Mr. Bintan Famutimi, admonished the market men and women to make the best use of the items so as to encourage the club to continue to do more for them.

    A representative of the Executive Secretary of Ikeja Local Government, Dr. Matthew Ebuloku, expressed his gratitude to the club for the kind gesture and also implored them to continue to do more for the society.

     

  • Lassa fever: Council begins sanitation of markets

    Lassa fever: Council begins sanitation of markets

    As part of Amuwo Odofin Local Government’s commitment to combat the Lassa fever virus, the Environmental Health Services department has begun the sanitation of markets.

    The local government has sanitised Oyinlola and Omotanwa markets in Festac Town, Lagos.

    The Executive Secretary of the council, Deaconess Modupe Ajibola-Ojodu, who participated in the exercise, noted that markets were where commodities, especially food items, were sold to the public and should be kept clean to prevent them from being infested with rats, the major carrier of the Lassa fever virus.

    She said although the people had been sensitised on the effect and control of the Lassa fever, “we thought it wise to further sanitise the markets and other public places.”

    The council boss hailed Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his efforts to make the state Lassa fever free.

    The Head of Environmental Health Services, Mr. Richard Tella, said: “The exercise will not only safeguard the health of the traders, buyers and workers at the markets, it will also prevent the spread of the disease.”

    He advocated personal hygiene as a panacea for the spread of any kind of disease.

    His words: “I think we should pay attention to our personal hygiene, which includes the washing of our hands and cleaning of our environment.”

  • Lassa Fever: Health worker infected, patients on the run in Kaduna

    Another health worker has been infected with the Lassa fever virus in Kaduna State and is currently being  isolated at the Infectious Disease Centre (IDC), Kakuri‎, Kaduna South Local Government Area of the state.

    Chairman Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Dr. Muhammed Sani Ibrahim who disclosed this said the whereabouts of   two patients suspected of having the virus, a male from Kachia Hospital and a female from Kawo General Hospital ‎who were referred to Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital cannot be ascertained.

    The NMA Chairman while briefing newsmen on Monday  on the Lassa Fever outbreak ‎ which has so far claimed the lives of three persons called on the public to observe a good community hygiene including food hygiene and food protection practices.

    As part of measure to address the situation, Dr Ibrahim said, the association is creating awareness on preventive measures, sensitizing the clinicians both in public and private set up to observe a. Very high index of suspicion and to observe universal precautions as they handle patients in all facilities.

    He assured that the medical association intend to sustain their sensitization and awareness creation efforts as a sure way to forestall spread and reduce death from infection.

    “We are aware of the various efforts of the Federal and state governments in the creation and circulation of management protocols as well as supply of the antiviral drug( Ribavirin)‎ which if given early can reduce morbidity and mortality.

    “We are also aware of the efforts of the state Epidemiology Unit and the State Rapid Response team who have ensured a timely response to all reports in the state.”

    He also urged all to ensure that they avoid contact with rats as well as food or objects contaminated with rat secretion/excretions, “people must avoid drying food in the open and along the road side and also to cover all food to prevent contamination,” he added.

    “Family members and health care workers are advised to always exercise caution and avoid contact with blood fluids while caring for sick persons, while suspected cases should be reported immediately because the treatment outcome is best if the treatment is commenced early.”

    Meanwhile, he said the 10 primary contacts and 28 Secondary contacts of the Doctor and Nurse that died as a result of the lassa fever virus are currently placed on surveillance.

  • Lassa fever: Contact hospitals reopened

    The first two contact hospitals of the Lassa fever victim, who later died at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun State, have been re-opened and certified safe to provide health care services.

    Commissioner for Health Babatunde Ipaye broke the news when he visited the Central Specialist Hospital and Rubee Medical Centre in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.

    Ipaye, in a statement by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Adeniyi Akinbobola, said the step was to disabuse the public from stigmatising the hospitals and their staff, adding that the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard of fumigating and decontaminating was strictly adhered to by the government.

    Appreciating the hospitals’ medical directors for managing the situation well, Ipaye said “if not for their pro-activeness in informing the Ministry of Health, the matter could have gotten out of hand”.

    “I want to call on the public to continue patronising the Central Specialist Hospital and the Rubee Medical Centre as they have been fully certified to admit patients and provide good health care.

    “What they have done was in the spirit of patriotism,” the commissioner said.

  • Lassa fever: Govt to fumigate Abuja

    The FCT Administration has concluded plans to fumigate Abuja.

    FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Bello, who spoke through his media team at an interactive session with members of the FCT Press Corps in Abuja, said the action would improve the environment and reduce Lassa fever.

    He said the FCT Administration had cleared outstanding debt of over N250 million owed cleaning and security contractors working in the FCT district and general hospitals, adding that the debt cleared was for the services rendered till last December.

    According to him, the administration extended the contractors’ services to December this year to allow plan for new engagement from the 2017 fiscal year.

    On Avian Influenza (Bird Flu), Bello said the FCT Administration has eradicated it, as no new case has been reported since February 9.

    The minister, in a statement by the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, said the FCT Administration would give bailout funds to financially-handicapped FCT area councils to pay two months salary arrears.  “The area councils have been mandated to clear the remaining one month debt.”

    He said the FCT Administration has structured the repayment plan for the bailout to be from the 10 per cent statutory payment to the area councils from the FCTA’s Internally Generated Revenue.

     

  • Corps member dies of Lassa Fever

    Corps member dies of Lassa Fever

    A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Dr Ogboji Kelechi has died of Lassa Fever.

    It was gathered that Dr Kelechi, who was serving at St Louis Hospital in Zonkwa, Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, died after treating an infected patient.

    Director General of the NYSC Brig-Gen J.B Olawunmi has extolled the selfless service of the deceased. He described him as an exceptional corps member who was fully dedicated to his duties, even to the point of paying the supreme price.

    Olawumi spoke through the Director of Corps Welfare and Inspectorate, Mr. Michael Ahile, who represented him on a condolence visit to the deceased’s family at Igweledoha Amagu, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    He said the NYSC family, Kaduna State, Ebonyi State and the country would miss the doctor and all he had to offer. He prayed God to grant his family and the country the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    But Kelechi’s elder brother, Wilfred Ogboji, accused St Louis Hospital of negligence.

    His words: “My brother died on February 20 and his body was taken to Jos University Teaching Hospital for autopsy where it was confirmed he died of Lassa Fever.

    “I am in pain and deep sorrow because it is a very deep loss to us and our father who has been sick for a very long time.

    “We are not comfortable with his death and the way he was handled in his Place of Primary Assignment. I was made to understand that he was sick for about two weeks and they were busy treating him for malaria.

    “I believe if they had taken him to a better hospital, he would not have died. Why didn’t they take his samples and conduct a test when the malaria treatment did not work?

    “We are calling for an enquiry into his death.”

    the government of Ebonyi State has declared a state of emergency on the health sector following a fresh outbreak of Lassa Fever.

    Secretary to the State Government Prof Ben Odoh addressed reporters after a meeting of the special committee set up by the governor to combat the disease.

    He confirmed that three of the five confirmed cases died while 49 suspected cases were recorded.

  • Lassa fever kills corps member

    A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Dr. Ogboji Kelechi, has died of Lassa fever in Kaduna State.

    The Nation gathered that Dr. Kelechi who was serving at St Louis Hospital in Zonkwa, Zango Kataf local government area of Kaduna State, contacted the disease from one of his patients.

    He hailed from Igweledoha Amagu Ikwo local government Area of Ebonyi State.

    The Director General of NYSC, Brig Gen JB Olawunmi, in a statement extolled the selfless service of the late medical doctor.

    The DG described the deceased as an exceptional corps member who was fully dedicated to his duties and in the process paid the supreme price.

     

     

  • Lassa fever: Pregnant woman, two others die in Kaduna

    Three persons including a pregnant woman have been confirmed dead of Lassa Fever disease in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Professor Andrew Nok who disclosed this on Monday said the two other people who lost their lives include a nurse and a Medical Doctor in the state.

    Professor Nok said the nurse and Medical Doctor contracted the disease after administering medication on the pregnant woman at Saint Loius Hospital, Zonkwa in Zangon Kataf Local government area of the state.

    In a related development, Kaduna State Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Manzo Maigari said the state has no case of anthrax disease.

    Dr. Maigari disclosed this at a one day workshop organized by the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, (NVMA) in collaboration with Africa Media Development Foundation, AMDF to train Journalists on reporting Zoonosis diseases (Animal related diseases) and sponsored by the Ministry.

    Represented by his Permanent Secretary, Abdulkadir Kassim, Dr. Maigari said the association has taken proactive measure of acquiring 150,000 doses of vaccines in the state.

    It has already stationed doctors and other veterinary staffs to monitor movement of livestock coming in from borders to the state.

    He urged the breeders of animals to report cases especially with symptoms of animals bleeding from nose, anus or ears immediately to appropriate authorities.

    Dr. Maigari said anthrax disease is deadly, saying the animals and also human who contract this disease die within one or two days just as he said zoonosis related diseases are serious and needs all hands on deck to combat it.

    Presenting a paper titled “Overview of Zoonoses,” a Professor of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Junaidu Kabir said poverty and ignorance predisposes people to zoonosis.

    He said the people out of poverty and ignorance eat improperly cooked foods, unhealthy animals and consume unconventional animals among others.

    Chairman of Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Kaduna State chapter, Dr. Yila Umar said there are cases of zoonosis in the state, hence the needs for the training of the journalist.

    Earlier, AMDF Program Officer, Sekyen Dadik said the essence of the workshop is to train the journalist to report from well informed position. 

  • Ebonyi confirms second Lassa fever death

    Ebonyi confirms second Lassa fever death

    The Ebonyi government has announced the second death from Lassa fever in the state.

    The Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr Daniel Umezurike, told newsmen in Abakaliki on Monday that the disease claimed the life of a 10-year-old boy.

    He said that the deceased died at the weekend after being discharged from the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

    “The incident is unfortunate. The deceased was a pupil of one of the primary schools in Igbeagu, Izzi Local Government Area.

    “The bereaved parents are based in Abuja but the report we have did not indicate that he travelled to meet his parents recently,” he said.

    The commissioner noted that the deceased was not taken to the hospital immediately he fell sick, which made his condition critical.

    “He, however, responded to treatment in the hospital which made the authorities to discharge him, but he unfortunately died the day he was discharged.

    “The hospital certified him fit after treatment but before he was discharged, we had already taken his test sample to the relevant quarters where the result read positive,” he said.

    He noted that the ministry had embarked on surveillance and contact-tracing of close associates to curtail its spread.

    “We have also intensified our enlightenment campaign among the citizens on ways to prevent the disease and immediate report of suspected cases to relevant authorities,” he said.

    The first casualty of the disease in the state was a student of the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, who died in January.