From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Lassa fever has killed two medical medical doctors and one ancillary well being employee, working with a personal hospital in Igboho, an agrarian group in Oorelope Native Authorities Space of Oyo State.
The Chairman, Nigerian Medical Affiliation (NMA), Oyo State department, Dr Ayotunde Fasunla, and Commissioner for Well being within the state, Dr. Olabode Ladipo, made this recognized to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday throughout separate encounters.
The newest improvement has made the dying toll from a complete of 19 individuals which have examined constructive to Lassa fever to this point within the state inside the previous two months to 4.
The NMA state chairman acknowledged that the three deceased personnel had attended to some sufferers in Igboho, who got here to the personal well being facility, and doubtless offered circumstances of malaria, and so they had been handled for such. He added that the 2 medical medical doctors died first, earlier than the well being employee additionally died within the early hours of Thursday.
Accotdijg to him, “The NMA declares, with deepest remorse and sorrow, the demise of two of her members and one well being employee from Lassa Fever. The tragic deaths occurred inside an area of 72 hours. It’s certainly a tragic week, and our eyes are nonetheless soaked in tears.
“Whereas we thought that COVID-19 had carried out its worst, we at the moment are coping with one other onslaught of a Lassa Fever outbreak. Moreover, we’re fearful about different well being staff, who’ve had contact with the diseased unknowingly. We have now suggested them to quarantine and report in the event that they develop any signs of viral hemorrhagic fever.”
Commissioner for Well being within the state, Ladipo, defined that 4 well being staff from a personal well being facility had been admitted right into a remedy centre within the early days of the week, saying: “Upon diagnostic investigations, all of the 4 had been confirmed constructive of Lassa fever. Sadly, three of them, consisting of two medical doctors and one other hospital workers died, regardless of all efforts at caring for them by specialists.
“Oyo State Ministry of Well being has continued to make efforts at curbing the unfold of the outbreak of Lassa fever because the first case was detected in January, 2022. Nineteen confirmed circumstances and 4 deaths have been recorded to this point. Surveillance actions have been heightened to all people prone to this illness. Assets have additionally been deployed to designated well being services to forestall unfold of this illness throughout the state.”
Ladipo implored all healthcare suppliers to have a excessive sense of suspicion for all circumstances of fever with profound weak spot in addition to bleeding from all or any physique orifices. He enjoined well being staff to adapt with common security precautions within the line of their duties.
“The general public can be admonished to stay calm, whereas making certain adherence to strict preventive measures. People having signs equivalent to fever, sore throat, vomiting, generalised physique weak spot, chest ache, swollen face, swollen eye or neck, abdomen ache or bleeding from any physique openings with out trauma ought to report promptly to the closest well being facility or name the state Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
“It is very important be aware that the virus inflicting this illness is transmitted from contaminated rats to people or from an contaminated human to different people. The Ministry hereby implores all residents of the state to keep away from contact with rats, contaminated meals objects by rat faeces, urine and different physique fluid, whereas sustaining strict private and environmental hygiene. We implore all well being services throughout the state to keep up excessive index of suspicion and report all suspected circumstances to the native authorities areas or state well being authorities.”
The NMA chairman, Fasunla, acknowledged additional that the affiliation has urged its members to deal with all febrile diseases with a excessive index of suspicion, including that the affiliation had additionally instructed its members to be cautious and vigilant always.
“Not just for the sake of their well being and security, but additionally within the curiosity of the sufferers and public well being. Members, particularly the frontline medical doctors and different well being staff, should put on applicable Private Protecting Tools (PPEs) always.
“We attraction to administration of well being establishments within the state to make PPEs available, in addition to cleaning soap and working water for handwashing instantly after attending to sufferers. That is to guard our members and different healthcare staff from contracting transmissible infections.
“We attraction to the Oyo State Authorities to conduct intensive surveillance and sensitisation on Lassa Fever outbreaks within the affected communities in addition to throughout all native authorities areas within the state.
“We commiserate with the households of our colleagues who misplaced their lives in the middle of performing their skilled duties to the service of humanity. Could their mild soul relaxation in peace,” Fasunla mentioned.