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Number of the People Oyo State Confirmed Dead in Suspected Lassa Fever Outbreak

Published by Tope Fakinlede on November 15th, 2024.

Number of the People Oyo State Confirmed Dead in Suspected Lassa Fever Outbreak

The Oyo State Rapid Response Team (RRT) has confirmed that four individuals have died due to a suspected outbreak of Lassa in the Saki West Local Government Area.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Dotun Oyelade, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, shared details provided by Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the Commissioner for Health. The victims included three men and a 32-year-old woman who was in the process of preparing for her marriage.

According to reports, a local hospital owner and three other individuals mysteriously passed away in the area. In response to numerous reports of deaths, the state government sent an investigative team to Saki.

Initial investigations revealed that an apprentice at the hospital, who had recently returned from Iwajowa, fell ill about two weeks prior to the outbreak and was suspected to have introduced the virus. It is believed she transmitted the disease to her colleagues and the hospital owner.

Three of the deceased exhibited classic Lassa fever symptoms, including craniofacial bleeding, while the hospital owner’s condition was marked by fatigue. He initially self-medicated with antimalarials and antibiotics, but his condition worsened, leading to hospitalization.

The state’s health team has since initiated extensive contact tracing, focusing on those who had direct contact with the deceased during their burial and care. The hospital where the victims were linked has been closed for decontamination, and the health facility that admitted the hospital owner without knowledge of the deaths from an unknown illness has also been shut down for cleaning. The doctor involved is now under surveillance.

In addition to these measures, public awareness campaigns are being conducted to educate residents on Lassa fever, its symptoms, modes of transmission, and prevention strategies. Health workers in the affected areas are also being trained to reinforce Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) protocols.

Samples have been collected from individuals showing symptoms, with laboratory results pending. Contact tracing is ongoing, especially for high-risk individuals.

Local authorities have been briefed about the situation, and an advocacy visit was made to the palace of the Okere of Saki, who was represented by his deputy. The response team is coordinating efforts with local governments in the region to ensure containment.

The outbreak initially affected Saki West but has since spread to Iwajowa and Kajola local government areas. The State Disease Notification Officers have been tasked with initiating early containment measures as they await the full deployment of the Rapid Response Team.

The state health investigation team, which includes specialists from various public health sectors and organizations like the WHO and Red Cross, is conducting a thorough investigation at the site of the outbreak.