First Lassa Fever Fatality In Lagos State on HWN LASSA FEVER UPDATE

The Lagos State government, Friday, confirmed the death of one of the three cases of Lassa Fever in the state.

Three of the suspected cases were confirmed positive of Lasssa Fever. One case was confirmed on January 15 and two cases were confirmed on January 18. Eight suspected cases tested negative, while we are awaiting results for the remaining three suspected cases,” Lagos Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said while giving update in Lagos.

Idris said the State has recorded 14 suspected cases of Lassa Fever as at January 21.

The commissioner also disclosed that the Ministry has shortlisted 447 contacts of the confirmed cases and 438 (98 percent) of the contacts who are currently being monitored.

Speaking on the late victim, the commissioner said that it was a 51-year-old man who lived in Ilasan, Lekki and returned from Edo where he attended a wedding ceremony on December 28, last year.

According to Idris, the late patient was initially admitted at Divine Medical Centre in Ikoyi on January 12, 2016 and referred to Mainland Hospital Yaba early January 18, 2016 and later died at 2pm same day before the result of the laboratory test that confirmed him positive of Lassa Fever was received.

The dead victim will be buried today after due consultation with the family and has been kept in the morgue in leak proof body bag, he said earlier on Friday.

The health Commissioner also stated that the Ministry has established an Emergency Operations Centre( EOC) and holds a daily briefing meeting at 6pm in the conference room of the ministry.

He requested for more Ribavirin injection and tablets and other items from the Federal Ministry of Health, adding that there is need for step up on community sensitization intervention.

HWN..........may his soul rest in peace!