Delta State Lassa fever outbreak: 55 persons placed under surveillance have been declared healthy
Fri Sep 02, 2016 07:47:am Health
4.2K By Buchi Obichie
55 persons who were placed under surveillance for Lassa fever in Delta
State following the death of a doctor who was admitted in a private
hospital in Asaba, the state capital, and thereafter died in Nnamdi
Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, have been declared
healthy, by the Delta State Government.
Speaking on the development with newsmen in Asaba, the Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge, said that the Lassa fever outbreak has been brought under control.
According to Azinge, none of the 55 persons placed under surveillance for having direct and indirect contact with the deceased showed any sign or symptom of Lassa fever.
He noted that samples from the five persons including the laboratory technician who took the deceased's blood sample were taken to the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, for diagnosis and analysis. He said the results showed that they had no symptom of the disease.
Azinge also disclosed that deceased's wife and seven children were all doing well, with none of them showing symptoms of the disease.
He added that the hospital where the diseased was treated before he died had already been disinfected.
Azinge added that the state Ministry of Health was currently collaborating with the Ministries of Information, Education, Environment and relevant stakeholders to step up actions and activities that would ensure thorough monitoring and prevention of the disease.
He added that awareness and sensitization campaigns were already stepped up through jingles on radio and television stations, as well as educating market women on prevention outbreak of the disease.
The Commissioner expressed his appreciation to the State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for his quick intervention in releasing funds to contend with the disease. Azinge also commended the Federal Government's response team comprising officers of the Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme and the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, led by Dr. Ihenkwezu Chikwe, for their support and technical assistance in combating the outbreak.
Speaking on the development with newsmen in Asaba, the Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge, said that the Lassa fever outbreak has been brought under control.
According to Azinge, none of the 55 persons placed under surveillance for having direct and indirect contact with the deceased showed any sign or symptom of Lassa fever.
He noted that samples from the five persons including the laboratory technician who took the deceased's blood sample were taken to the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, for diagnosis and analysis. He said the results showed that they had no symptom of the disease.
Azinge also disclosed that deceased's wife and seven children were all doing well, with none of them showing symptoms of the disease.
He added that the hospital where the diseased was treated before he died had already been disinfected.
Azinge added that the state Ministry of Health was currently collaborating with the Ministries of Information, Education, Environment and relevant stakeholders to step up actions and activities that would ensure thorough monitoring and prevention of the disease.
He added that awareness and sensitization campaigns were already stepped up through jingles on radio and television stations, as well as educating market women on prevention outbreak of the disease.
The Commissioner expressed his appreciation to the State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for his quick intervention in releasing funds to contend with the disease. Azinge also commended the Federal Government's response team comprising officers of the Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme and the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, led by Dr. Ihenkwezu Chikwe, for their support and technical assistance in combating the outbreak.
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