Lagos Records Second Lassa Fever Casualty

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Lagos, Latest Headlines, News From The State Wednesday, January 27th, 2016

– Results Of Two Suspected Cases Pending

By Niyi Adeyi

The Lagos State Government has confirmed another death due to infection by the ravaging Lassa Fever.

According to the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, the latest victim – a 27 year old lady, he confirmed died at the Ijede General Hospital, Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb, after receiving treatment from a private hospital and three churches before she was referred to the general hospital. The victim died Tuesday.

At a briefing Wednesday, Dr. Idris stated that the deceased might have contacted the disease after traveling to Edo State on December 24, 2015 and returned to Lagos on January 2, 2016.

On the management of the deadly disease, the Commissioner said the State’s Health Ministry had commenced tracing of 90 persons assumed to have had contact with the latest victim.

The remains of the victim, Dr. Idris disclosed has been kept in the morgue in leak proof body bag, while she is to be buried after due consultation with her family members.

The Commissioner affirmed that the State has so far recorded 20 suspected cases of Lassa fever since its outbreak. Out of this, he indicated “14 suspected cases tested negative”, while four cases tested positive to Lassa fever. Also, the results of two suspected cases he disclosed were still pending

“The ministry has listed 537 contacts of the confirmed cases and 534 of the contacts are currently being monitored” the Commissioner confirmed.

It would be recalled the first Lassa Fever casualty in Lagos, a 51- year- old man died last week at the Mainland Hospital in Yaba, after traveling to Edo State last month.