Ogun State Government has announced the outset of Lassa fever in the state and confirmed its first case.

This was made known in a statement by the Commissioner of Health, Dr Tomi Coker on Wednesday in Abeokuta.

According to Mr Coker, the index case is a 25-year-old female National Youth Service Corps member who fell sick while in Ondo State.

She explained that the corps member was thereafter brought to a secondary health facility in the Ijebu-North Local Government Area on March 18 and later died the same day.

She described Lassa fever as a viral haemorrhagic disease that causes high grade fever, headache, general body weakness and sore throat.

She said, “Other symptoms may include muscle pain, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, chest pain and unexplained bleeding from the ears, eyes, nose, mouth and other body openings,” she said.

She implored residents 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.

She stated, “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 suspects 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 (0703-421-4893) or State Epidemiologist (0808-425-0881). 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.’’

The commissioner reaffirmed the state government’s dedication to protecting the health of its citizens through continuous surveillance and prompt response to infectious diseases.

(NAN)