Tag Archives: Lassa fever

BREAKING: One case of Lassa Fever confirmed in Kogi State

Posted on by
247

This is to inform the General public that there has been a confirmed case of Lassa Fever in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The confirmation was done afterwards a patient (male) who is a resident of Angwan Kura, Lokoja reported at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Federal Medical Centre Lokoja, with signs and symptoms suggestive of haemorrhagic fever.

The State Epidemiologists immediately responded by sending the patient’s blood sample to the designated Laboratory at Federal Specialist Hospital Irrua, Edo State for analysis, which came back positive for Lasser fever.

The patient was eventualy transfered to Federal Specialist Hospital Irrua, Edo State for optimal care.

The State Rapid Response Team was summoned by the Hon. commissioner for Health *Dr Saka Haruna Audu* and provisions were made for source/contact tracing and prophylactic treatment for medical personel who had contact with the patient before transfer. All these have been concluded as all those who have had contact with the patient  are currently being closely monitored.


It is important to note that it was discovered that the patient had travelled to Illorin, Kwara State where he had stayed for two weeks. He only developed symptoms of haemorrhagic fever two days after his return. We are therefore uncertain whether he contracted the virus there or here in Lokoja.


All hands are on deck to prevent further spread of the disease as jingles and other means of public enlightenment are currently ongoing.

Any suspected case of Lassa Fever or any one with useful information related to this subject matter should call
08030607102

 

Audu Haruna
PA. To Hon. Commissioner for Health

Borno confirms new Lassa fever case

Posted on by
16

The Borno Government on Wednesday said it had recorded a new case of Lassa fever after a 32-year-old woman tested positive to the disease.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Haruna Mishelia, made the disclosure at a news conference in Maiduguri.

Mishelia explained that the woman, from Zabarmari in Jere Local Government Area of the state, developed some symptoms of the disease after taking ill.

He said the state’s Ministry of Health had taken precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

He explained that “Lassa fever was first discovered in Borno in 1969 in Lassa village in Askira Uba Local Government Area.

“But since then, no single case was reported until now.”

Mishelia said the ministry had quarantined all the people who had contact with the woman.

“We are embarking on mass fumigation in the entire area to kill rats that might carry the disease.

“We are also placing all those who came into contact with the woman lately on surveillance.”

Lassa Fever: FG Set To Take Up New Preventive Measures

Posted on by
Reply

Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Doctor Chike Ihekweazu, says the government is taking new preventive measures to reduce the rate of Lassa fever infection across Nigeria.

 

He made the comments at the media advocacy meeting on Lassa fever outbreak.

 

It was also revealed that the National Reference Laboratory for rapid testing of cases of Lassa fever, will be operational by the second quarter of 2017.

 

Dr. Ihekweazu added that over the last few years, Lassa fever has broken out in several states across the federation with increasing prevalence.

 

He explained that the new preventive measures taken by the government have reduced the rate of Lassa contraction by 20 per cent.

Lassa fever: Lagos storms 465 markets to kill rats

Posted on by
33

The Lagos State Vector Control Programme is to employ more graduates of the state’s College of Health Technology (LASCOHET), Yaba, to eliminate Lassa Fever virus by killing rats from 465 markets in the state.

Mr Oluwasegun Benson, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Phosgard Fumigants Nigeria Ltd., and the programme’s coordinator, disclosed this on Thursday in Lagos.

The state government established the programme to eliminate Lassa Fever virus transmitted to humans by killing rats especially in markets and public places in what is called ‘deratting’.

The coordinator spoke shortly after inspecting markets in Ijeh Barracks and Obalande in Eti-Osa Local Government and seven others in Ijora, Apapa Local Government.

Benson said that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State had given his approval for automatic employment of 233 graduates of the college from 2012/2013 academic session with effect from July 2, 2016.

He said the team’s planned employment of more graduates of LASCOHET would further enhance curbing the spread of Lassa fever in the state by ridding it of rats.

LASCOHET, formerly known as the School of Hygiene, was established by Dr Oladipo Oluwole, the first Nigerian Medical Officer of Health, in 1920.

Benson explained that under the programme, his members would cover over 465 markets, beginning from next month.

“The ‘deratisation’ of the markets will be done every month. We will visit all the markets in each local government in the state once a month.

Ogun State Declares 396, Others Free Of Lassa Fever.

Posted on by
Reply

The Ogun Commissioner for Health Dr. Babtunde Ipaye, has said that 396 people have been declared free of Lassa Fever according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard, after being placed under surveillance.

The persons were said to have 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 in December 2016.

Ipaye also revealed that 19 close contacts to another new suspected Lassa fever case, came out negative after been tested.

The Commissioner, who made this disclosure during an interview in his office with Journalists at Oke- Mosan in Abeokuta, explained that during the process of monitoring the 396 contacts, another suspected case was recorded with about 50 contacts traced to the victim.

According to him, the blood samples of the 19 primary contacts out of the 50, were then tested and confirmed to be negative.

Ipaye said the suspected victim who later died at University College Hospital, (UCH) in Ibadan, cannot be counted for Ogun State, saying that the remaining 39 secondary contacts have been placed under close monitoring with one thermometer and health officer attached to each of them to monitor their temperature.

He added that so far, none of the contacts have shown abnormal temperature since they began monitoring and that 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, is exceeded before they could be medically adjudged to be free of the disease.

The Health Commissioner said the 39 contacts would in less than a week, be declared free to include the 19 close contacts that were tested nagative.

He then urged members of the public not to panic, while assuring citizens that the government was on top of the situation.

He also stressed the need for the people to cultivate high level of hygiene, keep food items away from rats and get rid of all kind of rats in and around their environment.

Dr. Ipaye also advised members of the public to report any case of malaria symptoms that may have exceeded three days of treatment to the nearest General Hospital.

 

Source: Channels TV

Rivers State confirms Lassa fever case

Posted on by
Reply

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

 

The commissioner for health, Theophilus Odagme, disclosed to journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the patient had fully recovered and had been 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 of contacts is effectively carried out.

 

“Right now, we pray it does not pose further threat to the state.

 

“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,” he said.

 

“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.

 

Source: NAN

BREAKING: Lassa Fever kills four in Nasarawa State

Posted on by
Reply

The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Health, Daniel Iya, has confirmed that four persons have lost their lives to Lassa fever outbreak in the state.

Mr. Iya told journalists on Monday in Lafia that 16 suspected cases have been recorded in the state, out of which four were confirmed positive and all of them have died.

He explained that the index case for the current outbreak was recorded in November 2016 and died a day later, while the three others died between January 13 and January 15.

According to Mr. Iya, the last three victims were discovered to be relatives of the index case, adding that 36 others, who had contact with the victims were being followed up.

He said the state government was doing its best with the assistance of the federal government through the provision of protective kits for medical personnel taking care of Lassa fever patients as well as drugs for treatment of the disease.

He said the state rapid response team had stepped up sensitization updates for health workers to check the spread of the disease.

Mr. Iya urged health workers in the state to always follow standard procedures in taking care of patients in the hospital.

He also urged members of the public to report cases of fever promptly to the hospital as early detection was crucial to survival of patients in the case of Lassa fever.

 

Source: NAN

UNICEF puts five Anambra LGs under surveillance for Lassa fever

Posted on by
Reply

The United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) has said it is monitoring five local government areas in Anambra State for any incident of Lassa fever.

 

According to the organization,the action became necessary following the recent outbreak of Lassa fever in the state, claiming three lives.

 

The five local government areas are Orumba North, Nnewi, Ayamelum, Anaocha and Anambra West.

 

UNICEF Communications Officer in Anambra State, Chineze Ileka said the organization will educate and enlighten citizens on Lassa fever.

 

Ileka said the people should ensure rats were not found in human surroundings, keep the surroundings clean; dispose wastes properly; cover food items; throw away foods partly eaten by rats; avoid eating rats and avoid contact with Lassa patients or the corpses of victims.

Lassa Fever: 13 still under observation in Delta State.

Posted on by
Reply

The Delta State Government says 13 of the 55 people that had contact with a doctor, who died of Lassa fever in the state, are still being observed.

 

The state Commissioner for Information, Patrick Ukah, disclosed this in a statement.

 

Ukah said the 13 persons would be closely monitored for “one more week”.

 

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge, had on August 22 confirmed the outbreak of Lassa fever, which claimed the life of one person, with 32 others placed on closed surveillance.

The surveillance was also extended to cover all contacts with the deceased doctor, who had treated about 55 persons over the period.

 

According to Ukah, 32 of the 55 contacts placed on watch in the state have been declared free of the disease.

 

Ukah said: “Sensitisation and advocacy to Local Government Areas, Primary Health Care Centres, schools, market places, among others will be intensified to achieve the desired result.”

 

He advised the people of the state to keep their environment clean and cultivate appropriate sanitary behaviour.

Lassa Fever: You can now make money by killing rats in Lagos.

Posted on by
4

The Lagos State Government will not relent in its effort at making the state the safest place to live in by providing a safe environment, the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, has said.

Adejare made the assertion on Thursday at the official flag-off of the Lagos State Market Deratisation Programme at Obalende Market.

The programmed is aimed at ridding the state of the Lassa Fever vector.

The government is collaborating with Phosguard Fumigants, an NGO, to promote the programme through “Kill rats, make more money in Lagos”.

Under the programme, the residents are encouraged to kill rats in their environs, which the programme implementers, Phosguard, will buy at a yet-to-be determined price for proper disposal.

Adejare said: “As a bourgeoning global urban agglomeration with a population of over 22 million people and daily waste generation of 13,000 metric tons, Lagos requires proactive environmental management to control pest and by extension diseases.

“Lagos is a mega city with the highest population which is still growing though in terms of landmass it is the smallest state in the country.

“According to a UN report, our nation still ranks among the countries with the highest number of infant mortality, hence we need to look inward to know how we can control this.

“In lieu of this, we are looking at how we can free Lagos from diseases, pestilence and infestations. We talk about mosquito control, pest control and other dangerous animals in our society.

 

rat

“The administration of Gov. Akinwumi Ambode is committed to ensuring that we have the safest place to live in not minding anywhere we are in Lagos.”

Adejare said that to provide a safe environment for the people, vector control remains the ideal strategy.

Adejare also said: “The mega structure of the state has, however, provided the opportunity for transmission of pathogens between animal species and humans which are heightened by the unprecedented increase in the movement of people.

“No doubt, the alluring feature of our state exposes it to a number of threats that if unchecked can spell doom for the wellbeing of the residents in general.

“The environmental and health hazards that vectors present to our people can therefore not be ignored. Therefore, to protect the population from epidemics, such as Lassa fever, vector control remains the way out.

“Vector control is a means of eradicating mammals, birds and other arthropods collectively called vectors which transmit disease pathogens.

“It is noteworthy that all over the world vector management has grown to become an economy on its own; we wish to take advantage of the enormous economic opportunities.

“Therefore, as beneficiaries of this initiative, it is our responsibility to cooperate with the agents of government going round to rid our markets of rodents and other disease vectors.

Ondo Government sensitizes residents on Lassa fever

Posted on by
Reply

Residents of Ondo State have been advised to maintain a healthy environment and avoid rats from getting in contact with their food, so as to prevent the spread of Lassa fever in the state.

 

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, stated this on Thursday at a sensitisation meeting on the management and control of Lassa fever held in Owo town of Ondo State, southwest Nigeria.

 

The meeting comes up after a case of the viral disease was confirmed at the Federal Medical Centre in the town, while two other suspected cases are still being investigated.

 

The Commissioner had earlier stopped on the highway between Akure ?and Owo to educate some residents on the need to stop spreading food substances such as cassava and yam flour near bushes, in order to prevent rats from contaminating the food.

He ?disclosed that the state government had made funds available to procure the equipment for testing the disease, as the victims pass through a lot of suffering which worsens their situation when they are being transferred to Edo State for treatment.

 

Speaking to reporters, a public health physician, Dr. Olufemi Ayodeji, explained the cause of the disease and how it is transmitted.

 

He said that the symptoms of Lassa fever include body pains, vomiting and the regular fever just like malaria, saying it could only be diagnosed through medical tests on the victims.

 

The Vice Chairman of Owo Local Government, Mr Olusola Owadasa and the traditional ruler? of one of the towns in the area, Oba Omotunde Adako, voiced their support for the sensitisation programme.

 

They promised to help disseminate relevant information and also educate their people about the disease.

“Kill Rats And Make Money In Lagos” -NGO

Posted on by
1

In a bid to avert incidents of Lassa fever and other vector-borne diseases in Lagos State, a non-governmental organisation, Phosguard Fumigant Limited, in partnership with the state government, has introduced a bounty, ‘Kill rats, make money.’

Under the project, rodents in the state will be bought by the NGO after they had been killed using hi-tech chemicals and equipment that would make their decomposing bodies non-infectious, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.


The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Oluwasegun Benson, on Sunday, said the bounty
would help to get rid of rats in the state.

“We will buy at least 20 rats for a yet-to-be determined amount. In Lagos now, it is operation kill rats and make money.

“A rat has 28 days gestation period and in the past years, there has not been any solid structure on ground to curb them from infecting humans with diseases.

“We are already approaching an epidemic with Lassa fever and we must be proactive and find a more coordinated approach to control them. It is war against rodents and pests in Lagos State,’’ he said.

3 Die In Lassa Fever Fresh Outbreak, 10 Others In A Single Family Infected

Posted on by
1

Three persons have died from a fresh outbreak of Lassa Fever, while 10 members of a family are currently infected with the virus in Bauchi State.

The Executive Chairman Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Ibrahim Gamawa, who said this yesterday in Bauchi, added that the 10 new cases were recorded in a single family at Jaye village in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state.

He said the outbreak started after a 78-year-old man died of the disease without seeking professional medical treatment.

Sad! Corps Member Serving At Kaduna Hospital Dies Of Lassa Fever

Posted on by
Reply

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 Ebonyi State.

The Director General of NYSC, Brig Gen JB Olawunmi, in a statement extolled the selfless service of the late medical doctor, while 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 Hits Kaduna, Kills Pregnant Woman, Doctor, 1 Other

Posted on by
1

A pregnant woman and two health workers have been confirmed dead following the outbreak  of Lassa fever in Kaduna.

The three people including a medical doctor who was undergoing his national youth service year as a corp and a community health nurse died at the Saint Louis Hospital in Zonkwa, area of Zango Kataf local government of the state.

The doctor and the nurse it would be recalled contacted the lassa fever disease after conducting an operation on a pregnant woman who later died of the same disease two weeks ago.

Confirming the outbreak, the state commissioner for health, Professor Jonathan Andrew Nok told journalists, that two weeks ago, there was a pregnant woman that visited the Saint Louis Hospital after she was referred from a clinic in Kamuru.

‘‘She was pregnant and an operation was conducted on her by the doctor and nurse. She subsequently died.”

He added: “The two individuals that died were the people that actually attended to the pregnant woman. She died about two weeks ago. No one thought they would die like that after the woman. The woman died of lassa disease. She was buried properly. And it was after her death that symptoms of lassa started to show on the medical doctor and the community nurse.

“The doctor and the nurse died after they had high temperature consistently for four days,” said the commissioner.

He said that the doctor and nurse showed signs of lassa fever shortly  after operating a  pregnant woman who was brought in from another hospital in from a primary health care centre in Kamuru in the same local government.

‘‘The woman later died few days after they were tested positive to lassa.’’

Credit: Leadership

Lassa Fever: NDDC Begins Distribution Of Kits, Equipment To 9 States

Posted on by
1

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said on Wednesday that it had commenced distribution of kits and equipment to fight spread of Lassa fever in the nine states in Niger Delta.

 

This is contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by Mr Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, the commission’s Head of Corporate Affairs Unit.

 

The statement quoted Mrs Ibim Semenitari, Acting Managing Director of NDDC, as saying that the commission was concerned about high occurrence of the disease in Edo, Ondo and Rivers.

 

It said 1,800 pieces of kits, cold chains, sanitizers and personal protective equipment had been donated to the Rivers Central Medical Stores to distribute to patients in Rivers.

 

“We will also send kits to other states for prevention measures; so that the disease can be quickly contained if it spreads to other states.

“Distribution of Lassa fever kits and facilities to store vaccines is part of the commission’s commitments to support the fight against infectious diseases and health challenges in the region.

“The commission will soon donate mosquito nets to states health ministries which will be distributed to people in rural communities”, Semenitari was quoted in the statement as saying.

The statement quoted the Rivers Commissioner for Health, Dr Theophilus Odagme, as saying that the kits and facilities would help checkmate Lassa fever and other infectious diseases in the state.

 

Odagme said the cold chain facility had increased the state’s capacity to store vaccines and enhance immunisation.

 

“We are hoping to explore more ways of collaborating with NDDC in tackling health challenges while delivering quality healthcare services to people of the state,” the statement said.

 

(NAN)

Lassa Fever Vaccine Trial In Nigeria Right – Expert

Posted on by
1

Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor, a member of the National Committee on the Control of Lassa fever, says the trials of newly developed Lassa virus vaccine in the country was a welcome idea.
Agbonlahor said this while presenting a paper titled “Combating Lassa fever: A National Health Challenge”, organised by the University of Benin on Friday in Benin.
He said that the vaccine developed by a combined team from the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases and the Public Health Agencies of Canada was a promising vaccine for controlling Lassa fever.
According to him, “this live and harmless vaccine, which is wrapped in a strain of vaccinia virus, contains a protein produced by the Lassa virus.
“Once injected into the body, the presence of the Lassa protein stimulates a protective response from the immune system. The humans that will take it as a vaccine will be protected and antibodies will be developed that will protect the persons against future effect of Lassa virus if infected.”
He also commended the Federal Government for creating more awareness about the disease calling for sustenance of the awareness initiative.
He added that the virus had killed more than 100,000 Nigerians since the discovery of the virus in the country, calling for more funding and political will to combat the scourge.
Meanwhile, the Director of Disease Control in the state Ministry of Health, Dr Osamwonyi Irowa, said that the State Government had not relented on its effort to make the state a Lassa virus-free state.
He said that a lot of structures had been put in place to combat the virus across the 18 local government areas of the state.
“We have improved our surveillance mechanism and contact tracking to follow up suspected cases. To this end, no new case has been reported in the state for the past days,” he said.

 

(NAN)

Lassa Fever: 10 Suspected Cases In Gombe Negative – Official

Posted on by
2

The Gombe State Ministry of Health on Friday said that 10 people suspected to have contacted the Lassa fever virus had tested negative.

Dr Joshua Abubakar, the Ministry’s Director of Public Health, told newsmen in Gombe on Friday that, their result of their blood samples recently taken to a laboratory in Lagos tested negative.

According to him, the only patient who tested positive has been discharged after being treated and certified free.

He said also that those who came in contact with the patient while on admission had been certified free too.

“The state rapid response team has intensified surveillance, and sensitization in all the 11 local government areas and the emirate council.

“ We equally have focal officers in all the wards saddled with the responsibilities of reporting any suspicious cases,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports recently that an eight-year -old girl from the state was said to have contacted the Lassa fever virus.

Credit: NAN

Lassa Fever: Nigerian Universities Deploy Cats To Exterminate Rats

Posted on by
Reply

Authorities of the various universities in the country have deployed various strategies, including the use of cats, in order to prevent an outbreak of Lassa fever on campuses, findings by our correspondents reveal.

 

 

From the University of Benin, Edo State; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State; Enugu State University of Science and Technology to the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the race for hunting of rats has taken a new dimension.

 
While some of the institutions employ the conventional approach such as cleanliness, sensitising students and members of staff to the danger of co-habiting with rats, and fumigation, others use the unorthodox mechanism like purchasing of cats to exterminate rats in their campuses.

 

Rats, especially the Natal multimammate mice (Mastomys natalensis), found in many sub-Saharan Africa, are believed to be the major carrier of Lassa fever or Lassa hemorrhagic fever. And statistics so far show that no fewer than 60 persons have lost their lives to the virus in Nigeria.

 

The authorities of UNIBEN are not giving anything to chance, especially with the reported death of a final-year engineering student. The student was said to be an occupant in Hall Three, one of the hostels on Ugbowo campus of the university.

 

But the UNIBEN management, through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Michael Osasuyi, dismissed the speculation about the death of a student of the university.

 

According to him, there is no truth in the story that a final-year student died of the virus.

 

Osasuyi, who, however, said the university was carrying out proactive measures to forestall any outbreak in the institution, added that a committee had been set up to sensitise members of staff and students to the dangers of the virus.

 

He also hinted of plans to “de-rat the university” as part of efforts to check the prevalence of rodents in the community.

 

Osasuyi added, “The vice-chancellor has mandated the student union to organise sensitisation programmes. Before any outbreak, the university is even proactive. The population of student is much; so, we cannot take chances. It is no news that we have rats everywhere.”

 

However, it was also learnt that the various hostels had been fortified with cats allegedly provided by the university management to control the number of rats within the community.

 

The use of cats to prevent an outbreak of the virus is also practiced in ABU. It was gathered that the authorities, in declaring war on rats, provided cats on hostels, especially on Samaru and Kongo campuses.

 

The Director, Health Services of the ABU, Dr. Hauwa Nana-Madugu, who confirmed this, however, said the university was free of Lassa fever.

 

According to her, all the hostels – Amina, Suleiman, Akenzua, Danfo-dio, ICSA/Rammat – have been provided with cats to eliminate all rats.

 

Besides fumigating and clearing the surroundings, students and members of staff, she said, had been sensitised to the danger of the disease.

 

She added, “Apart from fumigating the environment, clearing of the bushes and rats’ (reservoir), the various hostels have been provided with cats to attack the rats. The university has no option but to safeguard the lives of the residents of the community.”

 

Credit : Punch

Environmental Health Officers Kill 4,400 Rats In 6 Markets In Lagos State

Posted on by
1

The Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN), Lagos State Chapter, on Monday said that it had killed no fewer than 4,400 rats at six major markets in the state under its de-rat market programme.

 

 

Its president, Mr Samuel Akingbehin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his association carried out the exercise at Onigongbo, Oshodi , Oke-Odo,Ikotun Idanwo, Ojuwoye and Mile 12 Markets. He said that de-rating the markets was part of the association’s efforts to curb the spread of Lassa fever in the state.

 

 

“The exercise is strategic in our effort toward the prevention of communicable diseases,’’ he said.

 

 

NAN reports that this was part of efforts by the public and relevant agencies to de-rat markets that were the causes of the Lassa Fever that had broken out in many states.

 

 

The disease, since its outbreak, had killed no fewer than 76 of its victims and over 200 cases across 17 out of the 36 states are quarantined and under observations.

 

 

Akingbehin appealed to traders from across the state to show an understanding toward the efforts of the association to rid the markets of rats and rodents. He said that the plan was to de-rat markets in one local government area per day starting from 5p.m. The association decided on this time to allow traders and buyers transact their legitimate businesses.

 

 

“We also decided to put the exercise in the evening due to the nocturnal nature of rodents and our members had recorded successes in the markets visited till date. “It took us about three hours to cover the Oshodi market when our members went there for the exercise.

 

 

“Today, Monday, we will be visiting Suru-Alaba Market in Orile-Ifelodun LCDA by 5p.m. with about 400 EHOs to de-rat it. We are still calling on all other executive secretaries of the local government areas to assist us toward the elimination of rodents in our markets and our environments,’’ he said.

 

 

 

(NAN)

Lagos Issues Quit Notice To Street Traders, Hawkers Over Lassa Fever

Posted on by
Reply

Lagos State Government, yesterday issued quit notice to street traders and hawkers in the state.

 

 

Commissioner for Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, who gave the warning, said the measure became necessary following the recent outbreak of Lassa fever in some parts of the country and Lagos in particular, as well as the coming rainy season.

 

Adejare said street traders were not only degrading the state’s environment in total disregard to extant laws, but engaging in armed robbery, child abuse, and compounding the traffic gridlocks and vandalising valuable infrastructure in the state.

 

 

According to him, the state government had given the Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, Brigade and the Task Force, assisted by other law enforcement agencies, the directive to clamp down on all violators of its environmental laws.

 

 

He lamented: “It is regrettable that the illegal hawkers and street traders have not heeded the enlightenment and advocacy messages from the ministry on the need to keep the state’s environment clean and safe to attract more investors and boost the economy of the state.”

 

 

Adejare explained that all the agencies of the ministry, the Private Sector Participant, PSP, operators and non-governmental partners, had been fully mobilized with men and equipment to ensure a 24-hour monitoring and enforcement for a sustainable environment.

 

 

“To halt the spread of Lassa fever, Lagosians must maintain personal hygiene, proper sanitation in their environment, especially, clean-up of the vegetation in their premises, and proper bagging and disposal of waste to keep off the wild vector rats spreading the virus,” Adejare said.

 

 

He advised residents experiencing symptoms of headache, sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain to seek the medical help immediately.

 

 

Credit : Vanguard

We’ll Eradicate Lassa Fever By April – Health Minister

Posted on by
Reply

The Federal Government has declared that by April this year, Lassa fever will “become history.”

 

 

The government, which expressed optimism that the disease would be eradicated in April, also confirmed that it had placed the family that was visited by a victim in the Kubwa community of Abuja and an official of the Kubwa hospital, where he was treated, under surveillance.

 

 

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said this in an interview with The PUNCH in Abuja, on Wednesday.

According to him, no patient would be allowed to visit the hospital where the victim had been admitted before he was taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, because efforts were afoot to sanitise the hospital.

 

 

The victim, a newly-wed 33-year-old man, lived in Jos, Plateau State, but came to see a family member in Kubwa because of his illness.

 

 

He, however, died within 24 hours of being admitted into the National Hospital from the Kubwa-based hospital.

 

 

The minister said, “We want to assure Nigerians that Lassa fever will soon become a thing of the past. It will become history in Nigeria. Ordinarily, Lassa fever will be eradicated from Nigeria in April. But if we do nothing, it will come back by August. So, we will make sure that we work all-year round to make sure that there is no resurgence in August.

 

“Our target is to eradicate it in April. Even if we have one or two cases, we will treat them early because all our antennae will be out to treat any case,” he stated.

 

 

Adewole added, “Not just the families that the patient visited in Kubwa but also those who treated him (have been placed under surveillance). We are working on that, we don’t want to frighten anybody. But I can assure you that our officials are all over the place to make sure that we place them under surveillance. It is all in their interest, not that we want to frighten them.”

 

 

Asked if there were plans to shut down the whole of the hospital, the minister said, “When you say shut down, we don’t want to physically shut down the place. But when the hospital is under surveillance, no patient will be allowed to go there until we declare the place safe and that is the situation in the Kubwa hospital.”

 

 

The minister added that the ward in the National Hospital where the patient was admitted and the mortuary where he was kept had also been decontaminated.

 

 

Meanwhile, the authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, said on Wednesday that a laboratory test had confirmed that a resident doctor of the hospital had died of Lassa fever.

 

 

The chairman of a committee set up by the OAUTHC on Lassa fever, Prof. Adedeji Onayade, said this while speaking to one of our correspondents on the telephone.

 

 

He said the result of the first test carried out on the deceased tested positive.

 

 

Onayade said, “We have a report which was positive. We were supposed to do two tests but the patient was dying when we took the first sample. We can’t do the second test now. So, we can say it is 50 per cent but we are going ahead to take necessary steps. We have informed all those who should know.

 

 

“There is no need to panic, Lassa fever is treatable and we are set to ensure that the situation is contained effectively.”

 

 

He said the hospital was on top of the situation, stressing that there was no need for anybody to panic.

First Case Of Lassa Fever Confirmed In Delta

Posted on by
Reply

The Ministry of Health in Delta on Monday announced that it had confirmed the first case of Lassa fever in the state.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Churchill Oyewo, Public Relations Officer of the ministry and issued to newsmen in Asaba.

The statement said that the index case occurred after a 65-year-old woman from neigbouring Anambra was admitted at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Asaba.

It said that the woman was referred to Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, when her conditioned worsened.

The statement said that the case was later confirmed as Lassa fever at the Virology Laboratory, Specialist Hospital, Irrua, Edo.

Credit: Nation

FG To Inaugurate National Lassa Fever Action Committee

Posted on by
Reply

The Federal Government is to inaugurate a National Lassa Fever Action Committee in view of the outbreak of Lassa fever recorded in the country.

 

This hint is contained in a press release, signed by Mrs Boade Akinola, Director Media and Public Relation in the Federal Ministry of Health, and made available to newsmen on Sunday.

 

The statement, quoting the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, indicated that the ministry would convene an Emergency National Council on Health meeting to discuss the on-going Lassa fever outbreak in the country.

 
According to the statement, the committee will be inaugurated during the emergency meeting, scheduled to hold on Jan. 19.

 
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister put the number of reported cases to 129.

 
He made this known on Jan.14 while addressing the Senate Committee on Health, headed by Sen. Lanre Tejuoso, on the outbreak of the disease in Nigeria.

 

 

 

(NAN)

Lassa Fever Confirmed In Lagos

Posted on by
1

One case of Lassa fever has been confirmed in Lagos. The case, which was diagnosed at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, involves a 25-year-old student from the Ahmadu Bello University.

The patient is said to have been admitted first at a private hospital in Ojokoro area of Lagos State.

According to the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, the patient is responding to treatment.

The death of a Lassa Fever victim at the National Hospital in Abuja, the nation’s capital, had brought the total number of deaths to 43 in the country, from 10 states.

Announcing the death at the National Hospital on Wednesday, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, called on Health workers at all levels to be more vigilant and look out for patients with symptoms of Lassa Fever.

Credit: ChannelsTv

Doctor Dies Of Lassa Fever In Rivers

Posted on by
Reply

A medical doctor with Rivers State-owned Braithwait Memorial Specialist Hospital, BMH, Dr. Livy Ijamala, has died from Lassa Fever, bringing to three the number of people killed by the disease in the state.

 
Chairman of the state branch of Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Furo Green, disclosed this yesterday in Port Harcourt, saying the late doctor, Ijamala, who died in the early hours of yesterday from the ailment, had contact with patients infected with Lassa Fever.

 

 

Dr. Furo added that the late medical doctor had been buried in line with recommendations of World Health Organization, WHO, for deaths from contagious diseases.

 
He also said a team from WHO had already visited the hospital for assessment, adding that the hospital had been decontaminated and that those who had contacts with the late Dr. Ijamala had been placed on observation.

 
He said: “Last night, one of our hard-working doctors in the department of obstetrics gynaecology, Dr. Livy Ijamala, lost his life following infection with Lassa Fever.

 
This is the price medical doctors and health personnel pay for offering health services to the public.

 
“The hospital is being decontaminated as we speak. All medical doctors and healthcare personnel that had primary contact with the late medical doctor have been placed under observation.”

 
… as doctors begin strike
He also said medical doctors in the state were on three days strike to protest the frequent abduction of medical doctors in the state.

 
He said within the week two of his colleagues, Dr. Isaac Opurum and Dr. Ib Aprioku were taken hostage at separate times. He said in 2015, 21 doctors were abducted in the state.
According to him, the warning strike was to draw attention to the plight of medical doctors.

 
He said: “While we are not happy to go on strike, the strike now appears to be a blessing in disguise because fewer doctors and patients came to the hospital today, thereby, reducing the rate of contacts among medical doctors and patients.”

 

Credit : Vanguard

How Lassa Fever Reached Abuja, Leaves One Dead

Posted on by
1

Nigerian health authorities have announced the death of a Lassa fever victim in Abuja, the first fatality in the nation’s capital since the latest outbreak in November 2015.

The minister of health, Isaac Adewole, made the announcement Wednesday evening at the National Hospital, the press director, Boade Akinola, at the health ministry, said in a statement.

The medical director of the hospital, Jack Momoh, who briefed the minister, said the patient was brought in unconscious from a private hospital in Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja, where he had been admitted for eight days.

The 33-year-old newly married lived in Jos, Plateau State, but travelled to see a family member in Kubwa because of his illness. He however died within 24hours of presentation at the national hospital.

The statement said the minister had directed that all primary and secondary contacts of the victim, including the staff of the private hospital in Kubwa, an Abuja suburb, where the deceased was first managed for one week before referral to National Hospital, be tracked.

He also advised that family members should report at the nearest hospital if anyone has fever for more than two days.

The minister, however called on the residents of Abuja not to panic but to maintain high level vigilance and present themselves for test if they feel unhealthy or they feel symptoms of Lassa fever which include high fever, stooling, tiredness, vomiting, etc., adding that self-medication should be avoided at this period.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Lassa Fever: Senate Summons Health Minister

Posted on by
1

The Senate on Tuesday directed that the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, should appear before the members to brief them on the outbreak of Lassa fever in 10 states of the federation.

 
This followed a motion by Sen. Olanrewaju Tejuoso (APC-Ogun Central), which was co-sponsored by five other senators.

 
The senate, just back from Christmas and New Year break, urged the Federal Government, health agencies and non-governmental organisations to carry out aggressive sensitisation in affected states.

 
It also suggested that the awareness on preventive measures of the scourge should be created at markets, restaurants, schools and other public places.

 
While condoling with families that had lost persons to the disease, the lawmakers advised Nigerians to adhere to rules of personal hygiene as well as report cases of persistent high fever to the nearest health centre.

 
Tejuoso, while moving the motion, expressed concern that since a similar outbreak in 2014, which claimed 20 lives, nothing had been done to check further outbreak of the disease.

 
He claimed that the fever had frequently infected people in Africa and resulted in 300,000 to 500,000 cases annually, and no fewer than 5,000 deaths each year.

 
He said that in spite of “this awareness, health and corporate agencies in Nigeria, emphasise on awareness creation only after new cases appears.’’

 
The legislator expressed concern that if nothing urgent was done to curtail further outbreak and spread of the disease, it would reach a magnitude where it could be declared a national emergency.

 
President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, called on the Federal Ministry of Health to provide adequate fund for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

 
He said that it was expedient for the centre to be adequately funded to enable it function effectively in curtailing the spread and further outbreak of the disease.

 
He also called on the Senate Committee on Health to interface with the ministry in ensuring that the disease was properly managed.

 
“The most important issue is that the Committee on Health should do its oversight by engaging with the Minister of Health on how far the ministry has gone in tackling the problem,’’ he said.

 
A minute silence was, thereafter, observed for those who had lost their lives to the disease.

 
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that states currently affected by the outbreak of the disease are Taraba, Rivers, Bauchi, Nassarawa, Niger, Kano, Edo, Plateau, Gombe and Oyo.

 

 

 

(NAN)

Lassa Fever Hits Ondo, Kills Two

Posted on by
1

The Ondo State Government today said two persons have been killed by Lassa Fever in the state.

 

This was announced by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanyu at a Lassa prevention stakeholders meeting organised for health workers, religious, opinion and traditional leaders in Akure the State Capital.

 

The Commissioner said one of the suspects came into the state from the neighboring Edo State.

 
According to an earlier reports, over 35 people have been killed by the disease which is now in about 10 states.

 

Adeyanju, however, informed that 31 persons had been placed under surveillance in order to prevent the spread of the disease across the state.

 

He noted that those placed under surveillance are those who had in one way or the other had contact with the two suspects killed by the disease in the state.

 

He equally counseled religious leaders not to harbour sick persons who manifest symptoms of Lassa but referred them to the nearest hospital for prompt attention.
?Adeyanju revealed that the outbreak control team at the local government has been re-activated, ?while emergency lines have been released to the public in addition to intensified jingles on radio and television.

 

The attendants of the event all promised to step up the sensitization in their respective domains.

 

 

 

Credit : Daily Post

Lassa Fever Jumps To Edo State, Leaves 1 Dead

Posted on by
Reply

The Edo State government has confirmed that one person has died from Lassa fever disease.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Heregie Aihanuwa, said that the dead person was among the five persons that were brought to the Irrua Specialist Hospital for showing symptoms of Lassa fever disease.

Dr. Aihanuwa explained that three out of the six infected persons were treated and discharged, adding that the deceased victim did not report her sickness early enough.

According to the commissioner, all cases of Lassa fever are treated in isolation wards in specialized centres such as institute of Lassa fever research and control at the Irrua Specialist Hospital.

Credit: ChannelsTv

Benue Suspends Eating Of Rats Due To Lassa Fever Outbreak

Posted on by
2

The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, after meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa has asked its people to suspend eating rats for now in order to curtail the spread of Lassa Fever in the State.
He made the plea because rat is a popular delicacy among the people of the state and because the state has recorded a case of the fever.

Two Confirmed Dead As Lassa Fever Hits Rivers State

Posted on by
1

At least two persons have been confirmed dead in an outbreak of Lassa fever in Rivers State.

 

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Theophilous Odageme, who confirmed the outbreak Tuesday in a statement, advised members of the public not to panic because the state government had taken a proactive measure to contain an outbreak.

 

The statement further called on residents to report any of such symptoms as persistent high fever, stooling, vomiting, bleeding from the nose, mouth and anus to nearest health centre without delay.

 
He also advised members of the public to maintain good hygiene and quickly report any case of Lassa Fever to the nearest health centre or hospital for urgent attention.

 

 

Credit : Daily Post

Lassa Fever Breaks Out In Taraba; One Dead, Two Quarantined

Posted on by
1

Barely three days into the New Year, the government of Taraba has reported an outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

 

According to the Commissioner of Health, Innocent Vakkai, one person has been confirmed dead while two other people kept in for observation.

 
He said: “One person died and two others quarantined and their blood samples have already been taken to Irrua Specialists’ Hospital in Edo State for further confirmation.”
Vakkai however said that the state government had responded to the outbreak quickly and therefore urged the public not to panic. He explained how the fever spreads.

 

“People usually get infected with the Lassa Virus after exposure to infected rodents, while person to person transmission occurs through direct contact with the sick person.”

 

“Other precautionary measures include putting food in rodent proof containers and wearing protections such as masks, gloves, gowns among others,” he added.

 
The commissioner further urged anyone who witnesses nasal bleeding as well as bleeding through the anus and mouth to the nearest hospital as they are among the symptoms of the fever.

 

 

Credit : Vanguard

Kano Govt. Procures Lassa Fever Drugs

Posted on by
1

The Kano State Government on Wednesday said it had procured some Lassa fever drugs and relevant equipment to combat the disease in the state.

 
Dr Kabiru Getso, the state Commissioner for Health, made the remark while fielding questions from reporters on the issue in Kano.

 
“As at now, we do not have any active case, but the state government has taken measures to check the spread of the disease,” he said.

 
Getso said that the state government had designated Yargaya Hospital in Dawakin Kudu local government area for the treatment and management of the disease, in case of any further outbreak.

 
“The state government has procured drugs and equipment needed to manage the cases, and we have provided an ambulance for quick response,” he said.

 
According to the commissioner, a hotline has also been dedicated for easy communication between communities and healthcare workers in the state.

 
The commissioner said that the government had constituted a high-powered committee to check the spread of the disease.

 
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recall that two patients died at one of the hospitals in Kano early this month, as a result of the disease.