An outbreak described as fatal febrile rash illnesses has been
recorded in Otodo Gbame community in Eti-Osa LGA, area of Lagos State.
It was identified by the Medical Officer of Health of the LGA on the
9th February. The report indicated that many children died as a result
of the outbreak.
Already 20 children had died as the cause of the outbreak remains
unknown, just as 34 cases of sick children with described as Febrile
Rash Illnesses (FRI) have been line listed.
The fatality of the outbreak was also confirmed as the graves of 20
children who died from the FRI since the day of onset of signs and
symptoms in the first case on 6th January 2016, were identified by their
parents.
Thirty-Four cases have been listed so far with 17 males and 17
females. 17 dead patients have been identified with nine males and eight
females. All are within the age range of eight to 72 months.
Health Commissioner, Lagos, Dr Jide Idris said his ministry has
notified the Federal Ministry of health (FMOH) and the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and immediately constituted a team of Epidemiologists
to investigate the outbreak and institute appropriate measures to
prevent further spread of the disease.
Dr Idris said: “The ministry drew up an investigation plan to
investigate the outbreak, verify reported deaths and report findings and
recommendations. The disease causing the outbreak is yet to be
confirmed. However, the signs and symptoms are suggestive of Febrile
Rash Illnesses. Blood samples (and throat swabs) from the patients and
water samples from the community have been taken to the Virology
Reference Laboratory at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)
and Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory (DQCL), LASUTH, Ikeja
respectively. The source of the infection is still under investigation.”
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