Lassa Fever spreads to delta state.
Tue Jan 19, 2016 01:17:pm National
3.3K By sosa hills
Despite the efforts of the Delta State government to prevent the spread of the dreaded Lassa Fever from entering the state, the disease has claimed its first victims at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, the state capital.
The victim, a 65-year-old woman from the neighbouring Anambra State came to the hospital for treatment in Asaba.
In a press statement released by the state Ministry of Health, the deceased hailed from Ifiogwari village in Ayameluhor Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The ministry's Public Relations Officer, Churchill Oyowe, who signed the statement, said the victim was first admitted at St Joseph's Hospital before she was referred to the FMC when her condition worsened. The case of Lassa Fever was confirmed at the virology laboratory of the Specialist Hospital in Irrua, Edo State.
Oyowe said though two other samples sent to the same laboratory tested negative, the Delta State Rapid Response Team had placed 22 persons who had contact with the deceased on surveillance, while five samples had been sent for laboratory investigation.
He said the state government had informed the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja on the developments while Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had provided the logistics to enhance contact tracing and other control measures.
At a media briefing last week, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, had told journalists that the state government had put measures in place to halt the entrance of the disease into Delta, adding that the seven Local Governments which share borders with Rivers and Edo States had been put on red alert.
He also said that Asaba International Airport and Osubi Airstrip, Warri were also under watch by health personnel to ensure that the disease did not gain access into the state through any entry point.
The commissioner advised residents to maintain a high level of personal and environmental hygiene, keep their food and water away from rats and promptly report any one with the symptoms to the nearest health centre or hospital or call the following mobile phone numbers 08037438829, 07037120510 and 08179338777.
Lassa fever is caused by a virus found in the urine and faeces of rats when they contaminate food or water or come in contact with porous skin of humans.
Infected persons spread the disease when their body fluids, faeces, urine, sperm and vomit come in contact with others.
Some signs and symptoms of Lassa Fever infection include cold and fever, sore throat, headache, pains in different parts of the body, nausea, cough, diarrhoea and general sense of being unwell.
The victim, a 65-year-old woman from the neighbouring Anambra State came to the hospital for treatment in Asaba.
In a press statement released by the state Ministry of Health, the deceased hailed from Ifiogwari village in Ayameluhor Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The ministry's Public Relations Officer, Churchill Oyowe, who signed the statement, said the victim was first admitted at St Joseph's Hospital before she was referred to the FMC when her condition worsened. The case of Lassa Fever was confirmed at the virology laboratory of the Specialist Hospital in Irrua, Edo State.
Oyowe said though two other samples sent to the same laboratory tested negative, the Delta State Rapid Response Team had placed 22 persons who had contact with the deceased on surveillance, while five samples had been sent for laboratory investigation.
He said the state government had informed the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja on the developments while Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had provided the logistics to enhance contact tracing and other control measures.
At a media briefing last week, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, had told journalists that the state government had put measures in place to halt the entrance of the disease into Delta, adding that the seven Local Governments which share borders with Rivers and Edo States had been put on red alert.
He also said that Asaba International Airport and Osubi Airstrip, Warri were also under watch by health personnel to ensure that the disease did not gain access into the state through any entry point.
The commissioner advised residents to maintain a high level of personal and environmental hygiene, keep their food and water away from rats and promptly report any one with the symptoms to the nearest health centre or hospital or call the following mobile phone numbers 08037438829, 07037120510 and 08179338777.
Lassa fever is caused by a virus found in the urine and faeces of rats when they contaminate food or water or come in contact with porous skin of humans.
Infected persons spread the disease when their body fluids, faeces, urine, sperm and vomit come in contact with others.
Some signs and symptoms of Lassa Fever infection include cold and fever, sore throat, headache, pains in different parts of the body, nausea, cough, diarrhoea and general sense of being unwell.
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