FEBRILE RASH KILLS 20 CHILDREN IN NIGERIA

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who confirmed the deaths at a press briefing in Lagos said 34 cases of children with Febrile Rash Illnesses (FRI) were line listed.

“The fatality of the outbreak was also confirmed as the graves of 20 children who died from the FRI since the day of onset of signs and symptoms in the first case on 6th January 2016, were identified by their parents”.

According to him, of the 34 cases, 17 were males while 17 others were females.
“17 dead patients have been identified with 9 males and 8 females. All are within the age range of 8-72 months”, he said.

He said the disease causing the outbreak is yet to be confirmed.
“However, the signs and symptoms are suggestive of Febrile Rash Illnesses. Blood samples (and throat swabs) from the patients and water samples from the community have been taken to the Virology Reference Laboratory at LUTH and Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory (DQCL), LASUTH, Ikeja respectively. The source of the infection is still under investigation”, Idris said.

He said that the ministry is to conduct a comprehensive supplemental immunization for all childhood preventable diseases in the community; to conduct a community dialogue with the community to build confidence and guarantee safety; to ensure continuous outreach immunization services in conjunction with the community and provide a Health centre for community considering the vast nature of community; to collaborate with key stakeholders in the community to ensure success of any health program in the community; to select three more community informants to collaborate with the Local Government and State Surveillance team for prompt disease reporting”, he explained, adding that two of the informants should be from the TBAs in the community since it is observed that many people in the community patronize TBAs regularly.

He called for observance of basic environmental sanitation, including proper disposal of refuse, avoidance of open defecation, regular hand washing with soap and water, maintaining personal hygiene, adequate nutrition, antenatal care for pregnant women, immunisation of children against deadly preventable childhood diseases, regular check-ups towards ensuring early diagnosis and prompt treatment of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

He advised members of the public and health workers to report any strange illness to the nearest health facility or call the following lines: 08037170614, 08055281442 and 08023169485.