By Chioma Obinna, Aliyu Dangida & Monsuru Olowoopejo

Two people were confirmed dead from Lassa Fever in Lagos and Jigawa states, yesterday, with 563 people, who had contact with the index cases, under surveillance in both states.

Lassa-fever

The 27-year-old Lagos victim reportedly travelled to Edo State on December 24, 2015, and returned to Lagos on January 2, 2016, just as the 18-year old Jigawa victim reportedly visited Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Speaking yesterday in Lagos, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, lamented that all cases recorded in Lagos were residents who contacted the virus during their short visit to other states.

The state’s confirmation came barely five days after a 51-year-old resident of the state was confirmed dead by the state government.

According to Idris, “the last confirmed case was a 27 years old lady, who travelled to Edo State on December 24, 2015 and returned to Lagos on January 2, 2016.

“She became ill on January 14 and received care in one private hospital and three churches before she was referred on January 23 to Ijede General Hospital in Ikorodu LGA.

“At the hospital, she was diagnosed of fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and body weakness. It is pathetic that the patient died within a few hours of admission. The case was confirmed as Lassa Fever on January 26, after test.

“The remains of the patient have been kept in the morgue in leak proof body bag. She is to be buried after due consultation with her family.”

Contacts

Dr. Idris noted that 90 persons, who had contact with the last confirmed case as at January 26, were being traced.

The ministry has listed 537 contacts of all confirmed cases and 534 (99%) of the contacts are currently being monitored.

Jigawa

In a related development, Jigawa State Commissioner of Health, Dr Abba Zakar, equally confirmed the death of an 18-year-old young man from Lassa Fever in the state with 26 people, who had contact with the index case, under surveillance.

Zakar said the victim, who resided at Gujubaki village in Dutse LGA of the state, reported at Dutse General Hospital with signs and symptoms suggestive of Lassa Fever after he returned from Port Harcourt.

He said the management of the hospital, on noticing the case, immediately reported to the health ministry that quickly despatched its Rapid Response Team, RRT, with three doctors, Disease Notification Officers, DNOs, and an epidemiologist to examine the victim and take samples of his blood.

The Health Commissioner noted that the victim died same day he reported at the hospital after his blood sample was taken to one of the Lassa Fever laboratories in Abuja, where it was confirmed positive.

Dr. Zakari, who pointed out that 26 people had contact with the victim before he died, said the contacts were now under surveillance, adding “we started getting worried when we heard that Kano State had two suspected cases on Lassa Fever in December 2015.”

FG’s cooperation

Meanwhile, Federal Government has deployed personnel to Lagos to assist the state government in tracing those who had contacts with the deceased and others who tested positive to the virus.

Dr. Idris disclosed that the Federal Government, as part of its aid programme, sent some personnel (students) of a medical institution to learn how the state tackles disease outbreaks and to assist the state in the contact tracing exercise.