Lassa Fever: One Dies, Over 400 Under Search, Monitoring In Lagos

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Lagos, Latest Headlines, News From The State Sunday, January 24th, 2016

By Ayo Balogun

Lagos State has recorded a Lassa fever casualty, amidst over 400 cases each, of contact with the confirmed or suspected patients of the disease being traced as well as currently under monitoring.

The 51 year-old victim died at the Mainland Hospital, Yaba.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who made the confirmation, explained that the patient was initially admitted at a private clinic in Ikoyi and he might have contacted the deadly disease after attending a wedding function in Edo State, south south zone, in December, 2015.

The Commissioner specified that the victim died January 18, 2016 ahead of the outcome of the laboratory test he did and which was received at the Mainland Hospital in Yaba.

He stated it was confirmed that he has been infected with the Lassa fever at the Infectious Diseases hospital.

Speaking on another case, Dr. Idris indicated that another lady in her mid 30’ and who hails from Kogi State, had been tested positive to the disease and she was currently on admission at the Mainland hospital.

According to the Commissioner, the State Ministry of Health had commenced tracing of 438 contacts related to the three index cases that have been confirmed in the State so far.

Dr Idris said the State has confirmed three confirmed cases out of the 14 suspected cases of Lassa fever, stating that out of this, two were responding well to treatment while one has died.

He indicated that so far, the outcome of eight samples tested were negative while the results of others – suspected cases were still being awaited.

“The Ministry has listed 447 contacts of the confirmed cases and 438 of the contacts are currently being monitored”, Dr. Idris confirmed:

The Commissioner however announced that the State has made drugs and other materials available at designated facilities, while various isolation centres have been prepared to manage suspected and confirmed cases.

Over 40 people have been killed by Lassa fever since its outbreak in Nigeria some months ago.