The Lagos state commissioner of health, Jide Idris
has confirmed the death of 25 children as a result of
an outbreak of the Febrile Rash Illnesses (FRI) in
Otodo-Gbame community in Ikate, Lekki.
At a news conference in Lagos, the commissioner
confirmed that there were 34 cases of sick children
with FRI and added that the graves of 20 children
have been identified by their parents.
“The graves of 20 children who died from the FRI
since the day of onset of signs and symptoms in the
first case on January 6 were identified by their
parents.
“Also, 34 cases have been line listed so far with 17
males and 17 females; 17 dead patients have been
identified with nine males and eight females, all are
within the age range of eight and 72 months,” Idris
said.
“The source of the infection is still under
investigation and until we know the required source,
we cannot say for sure, what is causing it.”
The unknown disease disease, which started
sometime in January 2016, made the predominantly
Egun community panic.
After contracting the ailment, the affected children
developed rashes, which was similar to the
symptoms of measles, and they died two to three
days after.
Idris said that the team of epidemiologists from the
state ministry of health are yet to come up with the
report on the source of the strange infection, but
added that the signs and symptoms of the illness
suggested Febrile Rash.
“Blood samples and throat swabs from the patients
and water samples from the community have been
taken to the Virology Reference Laboratory.
“This is at Lagos University Teaching Hospital and
Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory and
Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja
respectively.”
He, however, urged the citizenry to continue to
practice health promotion and disease prevention
measures.
According to him, such measures should include
basic environmental sanitation, including proper
disposal of refuse, and avoiding open defecation, as
well as regular hand washing with soap and water,
maintaining personal hygiene, adequate nutrition,
and antenatal care for pregnant women.
He listed other measures as “immunisation of
children against deadly vaccine and preventable
childhood diseases, and regular checkups towards
ensuring early diagnosis and prompt treatment of
both communicable and non-communicable
diseases.
SOURCE: NAN
