Coco-bassey Esu|17 January 2016|6:23am
Cross River State Government has stepped up full emergency public health response and full surveillance to prevent lassa fever spread to the state.
Cross River State Commissioner for Health Dr. (Mrs.) Inyang Asibong stated this during lassa fever sensitization tours to the Department of Community Health, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and Dr. Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital Calabar respectively.
In her separate speech, Dr. Asibong reminded physicians and other professionals of the Department of Community Health, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital to be vigilant as they discharge their duties in fighting this scourge, lassa fever, that is ravaging in more than 10 States (Bauchi, Nassarawa, Niger, Taraba, Kano, Edo, Oyo, Rivers, Plateau and Gombe) that infected 93 people with 43 death.
Dr. Asibong stressed that the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Senator Prof. Benedict Ayade has mandated the state's Ministry of Health in collaboration with Ministries of Information, Environment and other relevant Stakeholders to be at high alerts and ensure the disease is not found in the state as the state is known for its tourism.
Also addressing participants who were mainly physicians, Nurses, health workers and the press at Dr. Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital, Dr. Asibong appealed that they step up the awareness on the disease and educate residents in their own language on measures to check the outbreak.
Lassa fever is a rodent transmitted disease that causes more than 300,000 human cases and 5000 deaths per year in the West Africa endemic area.
It is named after the Nigeria town in Borno state where it was first discovered by Western Medical Professionals. It is animal borne, and the vector is a species of rat named mastomys natalensis. It is possible to acquire the infection through broken skin or mucous membrane that is directly exposed to infectious material.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Lassa fever typically occurs within 1 – 3 weeks. Mild symptoms which are approximately 80 % and undiagnosed includes slight fever,, general body weakness and headache. In 20 %of infected individuals, disease may progress to serious symptoms including bleeding in gums, eyes or nose, respiratory distress, repeated vomiting, facial swelling. Other varied symptoms are hearing loss, tremors and encephalitis. Shock may occur within two weeks after symptoms onset due to multi-organ failure.
PREVENTION & CONTROL
Lassa fever is prevented by avoiding contact with rodent (rat) especially in endemic area where outbreak occur.
-Avoid person to person contact when caring for patients with lassa fever.
-Putting food in rodent proof containers.
-Keeping the home clean to discourage rodents entering home.
-Report to the nearest health facility if you have symptoms like headache, fever, vomiting, pain, diarrhea and red eye.
TREATMENT
– Early and aggressive treatment using ribavirin as recommended.
NOTE : The public should not be panic as Cross River State is free from lassa fever but should call the following hot lines or report at the health facility closest to you if suspicious of lassa fever.
Abi – 07037400747
Akamkpa – 08038715409
Akpabuyo – 08138901502
Bakassi – 08022874600
Bekwarra – 08072417474
Biase – 08066127990
Boki – 08069343461
Calabar Municipality – 08101589562, Calabar South – 07031826408
Etung – 08164995536
Ikom – 09022155086
Obanlikul – 08127194376
Obubra – 08138271908
Obudu – 08177359176
Odukpani – 08061232835
Ogoja – 07032402937
Yakurr – 08069567651
Yala – 08089456724.
Coco-Bassey Esu
SA -Media & Publicity, to the Cross River State Commissioner for Health
