The Commissioner for Health in
Plateau, Dr Kunden Deyin, said the state recorded four deaths, while laboratory
tests confirmed five cases of Lassa fever since December 2016, Vanguard reports.
The commissioner
told newsmen on Monday via telephone interview in Jos that 80 per cent of the
mortality rate was due to late
presentation of patients to health care facilities.
presentation of patients to health care facilities.
Deyin said “the mortality rate is as
high as 80 per cent; the reason is that people are reporting very late, Lassa
fever is best managed when patients start taking the drug within the first week
of contracting the disease.
“The symptoms are similar to that of malaria such
as nausea, body weakness and joint pains; it is at advanced stage that symptoms
such as bleeding from the eyes, nose, mouth or private part occur.”
The
commissioner, who said that getting the drug for the management of Lassa fever
was difficult as it was not readily sold in the open market, added that the
state was trying to access the drugs from the Federal Ministry of Health.
He
said the state ministry had, however, alerted healthcare workers in the state
to be on alert and to have “high index of suspicion.” He explained that such
suspicion meant that when a patient had symptoms of malaria and was treated for
it and was still not getting better, further investigation should be carried
out to ascertain if was Lassa fever.
The commissioner noted that the ministry
had commenced sensitisation in Jos-Bukuru metropolis and in the 17 local
government areas of the state to enlighten the people on how to prevent the
disease. “Lassa fever is transmitted through the urine and excreta of rats
which serve as reservoir for the Lassa virus and the rodent is usually
attracted to dirty and flirty environment.
“The ministry, through
sensitisation, educates the populace on the importance of keeping clean
environment and on the need to ensure that foods are stored in rodent-proof
containers and to desist from drying food items on the roadside since rats can
urinate and defecate in them. “We embarked on this social mobilisation because
we believe that prevention is better than cure.’’
Deyin said the ministry also
liaised with traditional and religious leaders on the need for them to
sensitise their congregations on the importance of promoting good community and
personal hygiene as means of discouraging rodents from entering their houses.
The Commissioner for
Health in Plateau, Dr Kunden Deyin, said the state recorded four deaths,
while laboratory tests confirmed five cases of Lassa fever since
December 2016.
The commissioner told newsmen on Monday via telephone interview in Jos
that 80 per cent of the mortality rate was due to late presentation of
patients to health care facilities.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/4-dead-lassa-fever-hits-plateau/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/4-dead-lassa-fever-hits-plateau/
Lassa fever
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/4-dead-lassa-fever-hits-plateau/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/4-dead-lassa-fever-hits-plateau/
Lassa fever
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/4-dead-lassa-fever-hits-plateau/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/4-dead-lassa-fever-hits-plateau/
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