The Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmed has confirmed the deaths of five persons following an outbreak of Lassa Fever in the state.
The confirmation is in a report of the disease made available on Tuesday in Kaduna.
Lassa Fever which is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Arena Virus Lassa was discovered in Nigeria in 1969.
Its seasonal clustering is mostly in the late and early dry seasons, and it affects all age groups and both sexes.
According to the report, 99 contacts have so far been line-listed and are being followed up, as 19 others also developed some form of symptoms and their samples collected.
According to Commissioner, an initial six samples were collected to confirm the outbreak, followed by another six samples from contacts, which were sent to Bayero University Kano for analysis, “with a 24-28 hours turnaround time for the result.”
“The index case was a 26-year-old youth corps member who took ill on Feb. 9, presented at the 44 Army Reference Hospital but died on Feb. 20.
“Symptoms presented included fever, headache, convulsion and bleeding.
“Thereafter, a total of 32 suspected cases were line-listed and samples collected. Six cases were confirmed positive, with five deaths and a male–female ratio of 1:1.
“The result also showed five were negative, while 21 results are being awaited,” she said.
The commissioner said Rapid Response Team has been deployed to state and local government areas, and activation of Incident Management System at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Mando, Kaduna as measures to combat the outbreak of the disease.
“Other measures are active case search, contact tracing, follow-up, risk communication activity and media management, as well as the supply of drugs and consumables to the 44 Army Reference Hospital and the IDH, Mando.
“The supply of rodent equipment by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), as well as interventions for rodent control by a team from the Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with state team,” Ahmed said.
She stated that late presentation of patients to hospital, poor adherence to infection prevention control in health facilities and non-adherence to the use of triage points are some of the challenges encountered in combating spread of the disease in the state.
The Commissioner reiterated the state government’s determination to intensify surveillance at all levels, as well as follow-ups on listed contacts.
“Though Lassa Fever is contagious and fatal, adherence to Infection Prevention Control and an early presentation will reduce mortality,” she said.
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