Lassa fever: Suspected cases in­vestigated in Lagos

The Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Dr Jide Idris, said the first suspected case of Lassa fever in the state was a 47-year-old woman who was referred to General Hospital, Mushin from a private health facility (Alafia Tayo Mater­nity Home) on January 7 with three days history of sore throat; frequent watery stool­ing of eight hours duration; difficulty in breathing of one hour duration and widespread petechaehemorrhages on the body.

He said the patient later died few minutes after reaching the hospital. “Result of laboratory investigation (blood) was neg­ative for Lassa fever,” he said.

Dr. Idris disclosed that the second suspected case, a 31 year-old woman from Nas­sarawa State, was referred from a private to Mainland Hospital, Yaba on account of the following symptoms she developed on January 4: 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.

“The third suspected case, was a 24-year-old housemaid who returned from Taraba State. She was brought by her relations to Mainland Hospital,Yaba on January 8 on account of fever, vomiting and diarrhea on January 9. Re­sult of laboratory investigation (blood) was negative for Lassa fever.

“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) on Tuesday, January 12 of this briefing are apparently healthy,” he said.

However, he said other in­terventions by the health min­istry include airing of jingles on Lassa fever on electronic media, distribution of fact sheets on Lassa fever to medi­cal directors of LASUTH and 26 general hospitals in La­gos State, medical officers of health in all the 57 LGAs/ LCDAs, all other agencies of the ministry and AGPMPN for circulation to all health work­ers in their facilities.

“Reactivation of isolation wards in LASUTH and 26 general hospitals in Lagos State for isolation of any sus­pected case. Prepositioning of PPEs in all 26 general hospi­tals for use by health workers with 6,750 PPEs reserve at Mainland Hospital,Yaba.The Disease Surveillance and No­tification Officers (DSNOs) in all the LGAs in the state have been sensitised on Lassa fever to enhance early detec­tion and prompt reporting of cases. Creation of awareness on Lassa fever by the health educators in the 57 LGAs/ LCDAs.

He advised members of the general public to avoid con­tact between rats and human beings. “Ensure proper col­lection and disposal of waste. Cover all foods (including left-overs) and water properly. Wash hands properly before and after cooking of foods. Block all rat hideouts. Store food items in rodent-proof containers.

Health workers are advised to be at alert and have high index of suspicion for Lassa fever and other viral hemor­rhagic fever.

Report any suspect case to the Primary Health Depart­ment of LGAs or the Ministry of Health. Observe universal safety precautions when at­tending to all patients. Wear appropriate PPEs when at­tending to suspected/con­firmed cases.

“Report any case with above symptoms or persistent high fever not responding to standard treatment for malaria and typhoid fever to the near­est health facility or calling the following lines: 08033065303, 08022234273, 08037170614 and 08023169485.

“The Lagos State Govern­ment remains committed to ensuring that Lagos State is Lassa fever free,” he stated.