* In case of emergency, call Nigeria Centre for Disease Control or Federal Ministry of Health: 08093810105, 08163215251, 08031571667 and 08135050005
Lassa Fever epidemic has spread to 17 states and claimed 63 lives out of 212 suspected victims from 62 local government areas in affected states, the Federal Government has warned.
Simultaneously, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control said because of cultural and religious norms, relations of victims will be allowed to bury their corpses provided they do not wash them, disinfect the corpses with chlorine and dig graves very deep before burial in double bodybags.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, gave the statistics Tuesday during the emergency National Council of Health meeting in Abuja about the outbreak and rapid spread of the disease.
Adewole listed the 17 affected states as Bauchi, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Rivers, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Nasarawa, Lagos, Delta, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Zamfara and Kogi as well as the FCT.
He added that there is high level of denial and conspiracy across some states, adding that health managers should not deceive executives with their pretence and silence.
The minister described the denial of Ebonyi State to report five suspected cases and one death as conspiracy of denial.
He said every state should consider itself at risk and put measures in place to contain and prevent the disease.
Adewole said the federal government would maintain high level of alert all-year-round to celebrate Lassa fever’s obituary next year.
He said, “With the resources available, we will collectively eliminate the disease in Nigeria soon. We have special facilities around us and we have adequate human resources to address the challenge.
“We will strengthen the Primary Health Care Centres across the country to enhance the surveillance mechanism.”
The minister said 5,000 Primary Health Care centres would be activated before the end of 2016.
“A committee already set up to map out health care centres across the country would benefit from the programme.
“At least one primary health care centre will be functional in a ward,’’ Adewole added.
In a related development, the minister announced that six most affected states will have Lassa fever diagnostic centres.
He said the states are Niger, Nasarawa, Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi and Ondo states; this is in addition to the six existing Lassa fever treatment centres.
According to him, the centres are Lassa fever Treatment Centre, Irrua, Edo; University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno; Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.
Others are Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), University College Hospital Ibadan, and the National Centre for Disease Control, Asokoro, Abuja.
Disinfect corpse with chlorine, bury very deep in double bodybag -NCDC warns relations
Meanwhile, the federal government has cleared the air concerning the handling of dead bodies by relatives of the deceased, saying that they would be allowed to bury the dead after disinfecting the bodies with chlorine, among other conditions.
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Abdusalam Nasidi, gave the conditions Monday in Abuja during the emergency meeting of National Council on Health on Lassa fever outbreak.
He however said the relatives of the deceased must oblige to disinfect dead bodies which should be carried out before and after in double body bags as well as ensure that graves are dug very deep.
“Families will not be denied the bodies of their deceased relatives because there must be respect for religious and cultural beliefs. The real problem is the culture of some people to wash dead bodies before burial. However, we warn against contact with the bodies as a bid towards curtailing the virus.
“Relatives will have to ensure that the bodies of the deceased are disinfected with chlorine and it is recommended that the bodies should be packaged in double body bags. We also advice that graves must be dug very deep.”
In another development, a male patient who tested positive to the disease was reported to have escaped from a hospital in Ebonyi State to an unknown destination.
Panic as doctor dies in OAUTH, Ile-Ife
Palpable fear enveloped the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife Tuesday following the death of a resident doctor who allegedly died of Lassa Fever disease.
Though the authorities of the teaching hospital admitted the death of the doctor, they however, debunked the insinuations that the doctor died of Lassa Fever virus.
Speaking with our correspondent on telephone, the Chairman, OAUTH Committee on Lassa Fever, Prof. Adedeji Onayade confirmed the death of the resident doctor but said the fact that the doctor’s ailment had symptoms similar to those of Lassa fever did not confirm him a victim of the deadly virus.
Onayade said the blood sample of the late doctor had been obtained and sent to the federal government for verification.
He said until the result of the blood sample was confirmed positive, it could not be said that the hospital had recorded a case of Lassa Fever.
It was gathered that doctors, nurses, other medical personnel and patients at the Emergency Unit of the hospital where the doctor died on Monday were said to have hurriedly fled the unit apparently for fear of contacting the contagious viral disease.
Professor Onayade cautioned against unhygienic environment and gave assurance of the readiness of the hospital to combat the virus.
-Leadership
