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Tag: Lassa Fever

  • Tragic! Lassa fever kills two Kano doctors as Ondo death toll rises

    Lassa fever has killed two medical doctors and 17 others in Kano and Ondo states.

    The Ondo State Government said 16 people had so far been murdered by the deadly Lassa fever while 84 cases were recorded in the state this year.

    In the same vein, the Director of Public Health and Disease Control in the Kano State Ministry of Health, Dr Imam Bello, said on Tuesday that the disease had killed two medical doctors and a pregnant patient at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.

    It was reported on Monday that 15 persons had lost their lives as a result of the disease in Ondo, but the death toll rose to 16 on Tuesday.

    The Ondo State Epidemiologist, Dr Steven Fagbemi, made this known on Tuesday while briefing Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and the local government chairmen from the Ondo North and the Central Senatorial Districts, at the Governor’s Office in Akure, the state capital.

    Fagbemi said, “Sixteen of the patients have passed on as their cases had reached advanced stages before they were brought to the hospital. Forty-seven patients currently on admission are responding to treatment, while 21 persons have already been treated and discharged.”

    Akeredolu urged the residents to stay calm as the government had adopted some measures to tackle its spread to other areas.

    Akeredolu, who said poor hygiene was blameable for the spread of the disease, added that the government had stepped up efforts to sensitize the populace about the disease through massive community awareness creation.

    “The government has continued to provide free treatment to all patients that present with this disease in our treatment centres. We will like the public to note that this disease is totally treatable; indeed so far several patients have been treated and have fully recovered.”

    In Kano, some patients were said to have been placed under the Intensive Care Unit of the teaching hospital.

    It was gathered that a House Officer in the hospital, Ummu Kulthum, died on Friday, while an anesthetist consultant, Habeeb Musa, died on Monday.

    The third victim, a pregnant woman, died due to suspected complications from Lassa fever.

    In a statement, the Kano State branch of the Nigeria Medical Association, said samples had been taken to the Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control in Lagos for analysis.

    The result of the analysis was still being expected as of the time of filing this report on Tuesday

    Also, it was reported that the late pregnant woman from Bauchi State, suspected to be the carrier, had a caesarean section 20 days ago at the teaching hospital.

    While speaking to newsmen in Kano, Bello said Kulthum died after she assisted in the caesarean section carried out on the late woman.

    Bello said the other suspected infected health workers were responding to treatment.

    He explained that the infected persons would be quarantined at the state Isolation Centre at Yargawa in the Dawakinkudu Local Government Area of the state.

    Bello said, “So far, we received a report of three deaths from AKTH, which we are suspecting to be the case of Lassa fever. So far, two samples were sent to the reference laboratory. We are awaiting the results.”

     

  • Ondo: Lassa fever claims 15 lives, 28 in critical condition

    At least 15 people have lost their lives to the outbreak of Lassa fever in Ondo State in the last one week while about 28 people are battling for survival.

    Also, a male member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), identified simply as Yinka, serving in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, has been diagnosed with the disease.

    In Owo, Ondo State, the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) is currently filled with patients of Lassa fever.

    It was learnt that the disease has infected over 100 people who are under treatment at the Virology Department of the hospital.

    A source disclosed that most of the victims were from the border communities of the state in the Northern Senatorial District like Oka-Akoko, Owo and Ose axis.

    The source maintained that patients were being referred to FMC, Owo, on a daily basis.

    Meanwhile, it was gathered that FMC, Owo which could no longer take patients of Lassa fever, patients were being referred to the Virology Centre in Akure, the state capital.

    According to reports the increase in recorded cases of the disease in the state is due to lack of awareness and sensitisation on how to prevent the deadly disease.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, said the issue was being addressed by government officials.

  • Umahi orders immediate closure of hospital over Lassa fever outbreak

    Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi has ordered the immediate closure of St. Vincent Hospital at Igbagu in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi following a suspected outbreak of Lassa fever at the hospital.

    The order is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abakaliki by Mr Francis Nwaze, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media.

    Umahi also said that all the staff and patients of the hospital should submit themselves to the Virology Centre at Abakaliki for comprehensive medical examinations.

    The governor also said that all the family members and close relatives of the patients and staff of St. Vincent Hospital be quarantined at the South-East Virology Centre, for close medical observation.

    Umahi assured the residents that the state government through its Ministry of Health would contain the spread of the disease and urged the public not to panic.

    The statement read in part: “Gov. Dave Umahi has directed that the Ministry of Health under the watch of Dr Daniel Umezurike, Commissioner for Health, in conjunction with the staff of Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, to immediately address all issues relating to the Lassa fever outbreak.

    “The engagement should include a comprehensive examination of all suspects and the clean-up of St. Vincent Hospital.

    “It should also include the placement of precautionary announcements in all media houses in the state on the preventive measures of Lassa fever.’’

    The statement said that the governor also directed that progress reports on the above directives should be reaching him every two hours.

  • Lassa Fever: 16 new cases confirmed as death toll rises to 121

    Sixteen new cases of Lassa fever have been confirmed from five states in the country.

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed this in its latest Situation Report on the disease for Week 13 which covers March 25 to 31.

    A breakdown of the figure shows that six cases were confirmed in Edo and four in Ondo, while two cases were confirmed in Bauchi, Taraba, and Plateau States.

    The report also revealed that one new death was recorded in Bauchi and another in Taraba State.

    According to the NCDC, a total of 2,034 suspected cases have been reported from 21 states across the country from January 1 to March 31, 2019.

    Of these cases, 526 were confirmed positive, 15 probable and 1,693 negative (not a case).

    Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 121 deaths in confirmed cases while the case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 23.0%.

    Twenty states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have recorded at least one confirmed case of the disease across 81 Local Government Areas.

    The states are Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River.

    In the reporting week 13, one new healthcare worker was affected in Plateau State, bringing the number of healthcare workers infected since the onset of the outbreak to 17.

    Seven of them were infected in Edo, three in Ondo, two in Ebonyi, and one each in Enugu, Rivers, Bauchi, Benue, and Plateau States.

    Similarly, 29 patients are currently being managed at various treatment centres across the country: Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) treatment Centre – 10, Federal Medical Centre Owo – nine, Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki – three, Bauchi – two, Plateau – three, and Taraba – two.

    The NCDC said a total of 6,489 contacts have been identified from 20 States.

    Of these, 1,443 (22.2%) are being followed up, 4,983 (76.8%) have completed 21 days follow up, while eight (0.1%) were lost to follow up.

    One hundred and twelve (1.7%) symptomatic contacts have also been identified, of which 55 (1.0%) have tested positive.

    The agency revealed that the multi-sectoral one health national rapid response teams have been deployed to Taraba and Bauchi States.

    It added that the national Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), has continued to coordinate the response activities at all levels.

  • NCDC confirms 16 new cases of Lassa Fever in five states

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), says it has confirmed 16 new cases of Lassa fever from five states in Nigeria.

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, disclosed this in Abuja on Saturday ,while given an update about the disease and effort by the centre.

    He said that the 16 new cases have now brought the number of confirmed cases to 526 out of the 2,034 suspected cases since Jan. 1 in 21 states.

    He also said that a total of 121 deaths had been recorded since the onset of the outbreak.

    Ihekweazu said Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, w Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River states have each recorded at least one confirmed case.

    He also confirmed that one health care worker was affected in Plateau state, bringing it to a total of 17 healthcare workers in seven states since the outbreak of the disease.

    The NCDC boss also said that 29 patients have been hospitalized at the designated centres.

    He said that 10 were hospitalized in Irrua, 9 in Owo, three in Abakiliki, two in Bauchi, three in Plateau, two in Taraba.

    Ihekweazu said a total of 6,489 people suspected to have contacts with those infected had been identified across 20 states.

    He said that 1,443 of the suspected contacts were being followed up, while 4,983 had completed the mandatory 21 days of follow up to and have been declared symptom free.

    He also said that 112 symptomatic contacts have been identified, of which 55 tested positive.

    The NCDC boss assured that the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre will continue to coordinate the response activities at all levels.

  • NCDC confirms 15 new cases of Lassa Fever in six states

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Saturday has confirmed 15 new cases of Lassa fever from six states in Nigeria.

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who made this known on Saturday in Abuja
    said that the 15 new cases brought the number of confirmed cases to 510 out of the 1,924 suspected cases since Jan. 1 in 21 states.

    He also said that a total of 119 deaths had been recorded since the onset of the outbreak.

    Ihekweazu said Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River states each recorded at least one confirmed case.

    He noted that no new health worker was affected, adding that a total of 16 healthcare workers had so far been affected since the onset of the outbreak in seven states.

    The NCDC boss said 32 patients were hospitalised at the designated centres.

    He said that 13 were hospitalised in Irrua, 9 in Owo, three in Abakiliki, three in Bauchi, three in Plateau, two in Taraba.

    Ihekweazu also said that a total of 6320 people suspected to have contacts with those infected had been identified across 20 states.

    He said that 1,567 of the suspected contacts were being followed while 4,690 had completed the mandatory 21 days of follow up to be sure they show no symptoms.

    He also said 110 symptomatic contacts have been identified, of which 55 tested positive.

    The NCDC boss said that the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre will continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels.

  • Lassa fever claims 15 lives in Ondo

    …102 infected

    No fewer than 102 people have been confirmed to be positive with Lassa fever with addition of 15 people who died in Ondo State between January and February this year.

    The state Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Wale Oke disclosed this while speaking with reporters in Akure, the state capital.

    According to him, “As at Thursday February 21, 102 people have been positive to Lassa fever this year. 82 people in January and 20 people so far in February apart from 15 people dead in January as a result of the fever but no death has been recorded so far in February.

    “Most people that died either reported late or were already subjected to alternative treatment and doing self-medication before they eventually came to hospital.Their kidneys and livers had been affected as a result of the delay.

    Oke, who also works at Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo, urged residents of the state to report early to the medical centre if they experienced upsurge of temperature in their bodies.

    He said “We have contact tracing mechanism whereby we can place on surveillance for 21 days those that may have contact with infected person. We continue to monitor their temperature if it is above 37.8 and ask them quick treatment.

    According to him, the centre has the highest success rate out of the three treatment centers in Nigeria for Lassa fever cases treatment, giving kudos to its management team.

    He added that the state government had put in place measures to curtail the fever and that the government had declared state of emergency on health sector.

    Oke explained that Ondo NMA alongside Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and others had engaged in series of sensitization exercises for the people of the state.

    He said the exercise was aimed at preventing further cases in the state, saying “NMA is concerned with the infection, prevention and control out of the so many pillars involved in the management of Lassa fever hence the basis for the sensitization.”

    He however disclosed that Owo, Ose, Akoko North, Akure South and Akure North are the local government areas of the state with the recorded cases.

  • Nigeria records 37 new cases of Lassa fever

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Wednesday confirmed 37 new cases of Lassa fever recorded between Feb. 4 and Feb. 10.

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, made this known on Wednesday in a statement in Abuja.

    Ihekweazu said that from Jan. 1 to Feb. 10, 2019, out of a total of 947 suspected cases reported from 20 states and the FCT; 324 were confirmed positive, three probable and 620 negative.

    He added that since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there had been 69 deaths from the confirmed cases, bringing the fatality rate to 21.3 per cent.

    The CEO said that Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo and Kebbi states, had recorded at least one confirmed case across 54 local government areas.

    He also confirmed that three new health workers were affected in Benue, Bauchi and Rivers states in the recent outbreak.

    Ihekweazu said that a total of 12 healthcare workers had so far been affected since the onset of the outbreak in seven states namely, Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi , Rivers, Bauchi and Benue and Enugu, which recorded one death.

    He said that a total of 3,746 people, who were suspected of having contact with infected persons, had been identified across 18 states.

    According to him, 2,658 of the suspected contacts are being followed up, while the remaining 1,045 have completed the mandatory 21 days of follow up to ensure they show no symptoms.

    “National Lassa fever multi-partner and the multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre continues to coordinate the response activities at all levels,” Ihekweazu said.

  • Auchi records 30 cases of Lassa fever in January – Official

    Dr Innocent Alenoghena, the Director, Primary Health Care Services in Etsako-West Local Government Area, Edo, on Monday said the area recorded 30 cases of Lassa fever in January.

    Alenoghena disclosed this during sensitisation/awareness campaign against the increase of Lassa fever in the locality.

    He said that the 30 persons diagnosed to be suffering from the ailment were currently at the Irrua Specialist Hospital, Irrua.

    “About 30 persons have been infected with the disease in the council area. Lassa fever disease is fast spreading across the local government.

    “Edo State has the highest number of persons infected with the disease with Etsako West topping the chart,’’ he said.

    Alenoghena said that the council had stepped up its campaign on maintaining a clean environment at all times to stem the tide of the virus, urging people of the community to be vigilant and avoid contact with rats.

    “The LGC has declared a state of emergency on the Lassa fever epidemic, following the scourge of the disease in the area.

    “We need to step up preventive measures and this means people must maintain a high level of hygiene at all times.

    “Foodstuff should be kept in rodent-proof containers and people should also desist from drying their food stuff on the road, as they never can tell when rats will defecate or urinate on them.

    “We will continue to carry out sensitisation at every flag-off opportunity of our health programme, to enable our disease surveillance officers to enlighten the people on the danger of Lassa fever and other related diseases.

    “We will continue to go round the communities to sensitise the people to ensure that they keep their environment clean from any form of diseases,’’ he said.

    Lassa fever, also known as Lassa haemorrhagic fever (LHF), is a type of viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus.

    The virus is commonly transmitted by rats with symptoms including fever, weakness, headaches, vomiting, muscle pains, bleeding and multi-organ involvement.

     

  • Lassa fever kills four in Plateau

    Four people have died of Lassa fever in Plateau State.

    The state commissioner of health, Kunde Deyin, confirmed the deaths on Thursday.

    The incident is coming barely one week after the Nigerian Army announced the death of a soldier in Plateau from the disease.

    The deaths also come two days after the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control announced a Lassa fever outbreak in the country.

    While confirming the Plateau deaths, Mr Deyin also said 16 people tested positive of the disease. He said the 16 are currently receiving treatment at Bingham Teaching Hospital Jos (Jankwano) and Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).