The Lagos State Government is investigating suspected Lassa Fever cases reported by the Mainland Hospital, Yaba and General Hospital, Mushin, following the death of three women that exhibited symptoms similar to Lassa virus infection.
Also, the Ondo State government, yesterday, confirmed two suspected cases of Lassa fever deaths in the state.
Health commissioner, Dr Dayo Adeyanju said this at a Lassa Prevention stakeholders meeting for health workers, religious, and opinion leaders and traditional leaders in Akure.
Already, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, and the 26 General Hospitals in the State are at red alert for isolation of any suspected Lassa fever cases.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who, disclosed this yesterday, said even though tests on the deceased were negative to the Lassa virus, the state government had set in motion series of proactive measures to contain any possible outbreak of the disease in Lagos and environs.
Speaking on the development in a media briefing, Idris said: “The first is a 47 year-old woman who was referred to General Hospital, Mushin, from a private health facility (Alafia Tayo Maternity Home) on 7th January, 2016 with three days history of sore throat; frequent watery stooling of eight hours duration; difficulty in breathing of one hour duration and widespread petechae hemorrhages on the body.”
Confirming that the patient later died few minutes after reaching the hospital, Idris said the result of laboratory investigation (blood) was negative for Lassa fever.
He said the second suspected case, a 31 year-old woman from Nasarawa State, was referred from a private hospital to Mainland Hospital, Yaba, on account of a host of symptoms she developed on 4th January, 2016 .
“The symptoms included fever, sore throat, abdominal pain, discharge from the eyes, bleeding per vagina, passage of bloody urine, anal bleeding and hemoptysis. Result of laboratory investigation (blood) was negative for Lassa fever,” Idris noted.
“The third suspected case, a 24-year-old housemaid who returned from Taraba State, was brought by her relations to Mainland Hospital, Yaba, on the 8th January,2016 on account of fever, vomiting and diarrhea on 9th January, 2016. Result of laboratory investigation was negative for Lassa fever.”
The Commissioner noted that one of the primary contacts of the confirmed case in Rivers State who resides in Lagos is presently being monitored along with her contacts (secondary contacts). “All the contacts as at the time (Day 14) of this briefing are apparently healthy.”
Ondo confirms two deaths
In Ondo State, Dr Adeyanju said one of the suspects came into the state from Edo State.
He noted that government has put under close monitoring 31 persons, who had contacts with the two dead suspects.
The Commissioner added that the state government has equally activated its surveillance mechanism to ensure it does not spread.
He appealed to religious leaders not to harbour sick persons, who manifest symptoms of Lassa fever but referred them to the nearest hospital for prompt attention.
Dr Adeyanju said that the outbreak control team at the local government has been re-activated.
