Lassa fever: We’re on top of the situation —Anambra govt

By Vincent Ujumadu

Awka— THE Anambra State government said, yesterday, that it was on top of the situation of the Lassa fever outbreak that killed a 30-year-old student of School of Laboratory Technology, Immaculate Heart Hospital, Nkpor in Idemili Local Government Area of the state, last week.

Addressing reporters in Awka, yesterday, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, said quick diagnosis and immediate movement of the patient to the treatment centre was the wisest containment measure the ministry took.

According to the commissioner, the deceased, Miss Obiekwe Faustina, who hailed from Imezi-Owa, in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, was presented at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, COOUTH, Awka on June 5 with history of fever and bleeding from the gum.

He said: “A clinical diagnosis of Lassa fever was made based on detailed history and physical examination. The case was then reported to the Epidemiology Unit of the state ministry of health, which immediately took over the management.

“The patient was transferred to Lassa Fever Institute at Irrua, Edo State the following day where the case was confirmed. She was managed for two weeks before she died on Saturday, June 17, 2017.”

Akabuike said of the 63 persons that were identified as having come in contact with the deceased, 31 were health workers and students who were also classified as high risk, adding that they were currently being followed up using necessary surveillance tools.

The Commissioner explained that three of those on surveillance, who eventually developed fever tested negative, explaining that after three weeks of surveillance, the ministry would close the chapter on Lassa fever as the incubation period for the virus is 21 days.

On the possibility of the virus spreading among the students, Akabuike said the deceased lived off-campus with her parents and did not report to school three days before she was taken to the hospital, noting that the centre for disease control of the Federal Ministry of Health had been contacted and assured that Anambra State government would remain very supportive.

Akabuike commended the management and staff of COOUTH and the epidemiology unit of the state ministry of health and assured Anambra people that there was no cause for alarm.

“The patient was managed with special protective measure; the accident and emergency ward where the patient was managed has been decontaminated and disinfected along with the ambulance that carried her,” he said.

Akabuike said that the actual area of contact of the disease could not be ascertained because the deceased travelled to Enugu and other places and urged the people to keep proper hygiene to avoid contacting the virus since it could be spread environmentally.

 

The post Lassa fever: We’re on top of the situation —Anambra govt appeared first on Vanguard News.