HEALTH With Francis Ezediuno: Govt Insists No Lassa Fever In Osun

 

• Only Case Imported From Ondo

Even as Lassa fever is repeatedly ravaging in some states in Nigeria, the State of Osun government has assured its citizens that there was no outbreak of the dreaded disease in the state.

This was made known by Dr. Adeola Musa, State Epidemiologist, Osun State Ministry of Health recently in Osogbo.

Dr. Musa revealed that due to the proactiveness of the state government, no Lassa fever case has been recorded in the state.

While reassuring residents of their safety, she also revealed that the earlier reported incident of a Lassa fever case at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, was imported from Ondo state as the patient did not contract the disease from Osun.

The Epidemiologist also revealed that communication channels have been opened up between the State of Osun and Ondo state so as to commence contact tracing of people who had come in contact with the patient.

On how the disease is transmitted, Dr. Musa revealed that it is mostly contracted from rodents which are the primary vector and then to human beings.

“The rodent especially rat is the vector and since most of them are found within human environment, Lassa fever is transferred from them to humans”, adding that the incubation period for Lassa fever is between 2 to 21 days.

“A way of preventing this disease is by engaging in hand washing especially after touching droplets or urine of these rodents and maintaining a high level of hygiene amongst our people.

She warned that in case of any feverish condition witnessed amongst individuals in a locality, it should be reported to the nearest health facility where proper investigation would be carried out to ascertain whether it was Lassa fever or not, adding that people should desist from using their hands as thermometers as this has a very high risk on transferring any infectious disease from one person to the other.

While recalling how the state government in time past had worked tirelessly to ensure that diseases such as Ebola fever and monkey pox which affected some states in the country did not occur in Osun, the state epidemiologist commended the government and charged the citizens to always work with the authorities in their efforts to provide affordable health care to its people.