A case of Yellow Fever has been confirmed in Oke Owa in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state, the Federal Ministry of Health has disclosed.
In a press statement released yesterday, the ministry said the case was confirmed in a young girl from the community after a laboratory diagnosis at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital at the Institut Pasteur, Dakar, Senegal, on the September 12.
Following the confirmation of the case, the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, said the state epidemiology team had begun investigation into the affected area and neighbouring communities.
“A joint team from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the World Health Organisation Country Office has been deployed to support the state in carrying out a detailed investigation and risk analysis,” he said.
Adewole added that an Outbreak Control Team had also been constituted to ensure rapid and coordinated decision-making.
He assured the public that all the agencies of the Federal Ministry of Health and their partners would work together to support the government of Kwara to respond in order to prevent spread.
Adewole said a vaccination campaign is already being planned in the affected area in Kwara state to prevent spread.
Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
Some infected people may, however, not experience any of these symptoms. In severe cases, bleeding may occur from the mouth, nose, eyes or stomach.
Other methods of prevention include using insect repellent, sleeping under a long-lasting insecticide treated net, ensuring proper sanitation and getting rid of stagnant water or breeding space for mosquitoes.
Adewole advised health care workers to practise universal care precautions while handling patients at all times and also urged to be alert and maintain a high index of suspicion. (Premium Times)
