Ogun State government has announced the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state as it confirms the first case.
The announcement was made on Wednesday in a statement by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker on Wednesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The index case, according to the commissioner, is a 25-year-old female National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, member who fell sick while in Ondo State.
Coker explained that the corps member was thereafter brought to a secondary health facility in Ijebu-North local government area on March 18 and later died the same day.
The commissioner described Lassa fever as a viral haemorrhagic disease that causes high grade fever, headache, general body weakness and sore throat.
“Other symptoms may include muscle pain, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, chest pain and unexplained bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth and other body openings,” she said.
She charged the people of Ogun State to promptly report to the hospital if they noticed any of the symptoms.
She advised all health facilities to step up infection prevention and control measures.
Her words: “Any case of febrile illness that has not responded to 48 hours use of anti-malaria or antibiotics should be raised as an index of suspicion for Lassa fever.
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“We implore all health facilities in Ogun, public and private, to step up infection prevention and control measures and encourage compliance by all health facility staff.
“Healthcare workers that suspects Lassa fever in a patient are advised to call their Local Government Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer, LGA DSNO, whose numbers are placed in our health facilities.
“They can also call the State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (0703-421-4893) or State Epidemiologist (0808-425-0881).
“The ministry of health in collaboration with the Rapid Response Team at Ijebu North East are keeping the situation under control with enhanced surveillance and community engagement and mobilisation for effective response.”
The commissioner reaffirmed the state government’s dedication to protecting the health of its citizens through continuous surveillance and prompt response to infectious diseases.
