By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Ogun State Government has announced the outbreak of Lassa fever in the state after confirming the death of a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Dr Tomi Coker, Ogun State Commissioner of Health, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Coker said the index case in Ogun State was a 25-year-old female NYSC member who fell sick while in Ondo State.
The commissioner stated that the corps member was thereafter brought to a secondary health facility in Ijebu-North Local Government Area of Ogun State on March 18 and later died the same day.
She described Lassa fever as a viral Hemorrhagic disease that causes high-grade fever, headache, general body weakness, and sore throat.
“Other symptoms may include muscle pain, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chest pain, and unexplained bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and other body openings,” Coker said.
Coker urged the residents of Ogun State to promptly report to the hospital if they noticed any of these symptoms, just as she advised all health facilities to step up infection prevention and control measures.
“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.
“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 suspect 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 or State Epidemiologist.
“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.”
Coker also reaffirmed the Ogun State Government’s dedication to protecting the health of its citizens through continuous surveillance and prompt response to infectious disease.
