From Damola Adeloye, Ibadan
Oyo State Rapid Response Team, RRT, has confirmed four deaths, linked to suspected Lassa fever outbreak in Saki West Local Government Area.
The fatalities consist of three males and one 32-year-old female who was preparing for her marriage.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi had earlier sent the Oyo State Rapid Response Team to Saki, following numerous calls from Saki West Local Government reporting an outbreak that had led to a number of deaths.
The team, consisting of the Director of Public Health, State Epidemiologist, state Disease Notification Officer, DSNO, state laboratory focal persons, representatives from WHO and Red Cross, as well as the PHC Coordinator of Saki West and the LGA DSNO, embarked on comprehensive investigation at the scene of the incident.
A statement made available to journalists in Ibadan by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, noted that one of the apprentices at the hospital who had returned from Iwajowa and fell ill about two weeks before the incident, was suspected to have introduced the infection.
She likely transmitted it to her co-workers and the hospital owner.
Three of the deceased exhibited typical symptoms of Lassa fever, including craniofacial bleeding, while the hospital owner showed fatigue and self-medicated with anti-malarials and antibiotics. His condition only prompted admission when his self-treatment failed.
Extensive contact tracing was conducted, with particular focus on high-risk contacts who had been involved in the bathing and burial of the deceased.
The hospital where all the deceased worked was closed down for decontamination.
The hospital that admitted the deceased health facility owner, without being informed of the death from an ‘unknown’ illness, was also shut down for decontamination, and the doctor placed under surveillance.
Public awareness campaigns were held to educate the community about Lassa fever, its transmission, symptoms and preventive measures.
RRT provided on-the-job training to health workers in the affected areas to reinforce infection prevention control protocols and prevent further spread of the disease.
Sample collection was also carried out on a person exhibiting symptoms, pending laboratory confirmation. The linelisting of contacts is still in progress, focusing on individuals at high risk.
Advocacy visits were also conducted at the palace of the Okere of Saki, who was represented by his second-in-command, and was briefed on the outbreak and the necessary containment measures.
Local government authorities within Saki West were equally informed and aligned with the efforts to manage the situation.
Investigation also revealed that the outbreak initially involved Saki West, but has now extended to Iwajowa and Kajola, while the DSNOs in the respective councils have been instructed to begin preliminary containment efforts, while awaiting the full deployment of the state RRT.
