The Lagos state government has revealed that 438 persons are being monitored across the state as a result of the outbreak of Lassa Fever.
Jide Idris, commissioner of health, disclosed this at a press conference on Friday. He said the state had recorded its first casualty and that the victim would be buried after due consultation with his family.
Idris explained that the deceased, a 51-year-old man, who lived in Ilasan in Eti-Osa local government area of the state, returned from Edo where he attended a wedding ceremony on December 28. He said the late patient was admitted at Divine Medical Centre in Ikoyi on January 12, and referred to Mainland Hospital Yaba, six days later, where he died on the same day.
“The dead victim will be buried today after due consultation with the family and has been kept in the morgue in leak proof body bag,” he said. Idris said as at January 21, the state had recorded 14 suspected cases of the disease and that 447 contacts had been shortlisted, out of which 437 were currently being monitored.
“Three of the suspected cases were confirmed positive of Lasssa Fever. One case was confirmed on January 15 and two cases were confirmed on January 18. Eight suspected cases tested negative, while we are awaiting results for the remaining three suspected cases,” he said.