A patient and 3 health workers have died after a suspected outbreak of viral hemorrhagic fever hit the emergency ward of the 44 Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.
The Acting Corp Commander Medical (CCM) of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General S.O. Okoigi disclosed this in an internal memo dated February 21, 2024.
He had disclosed that samples had been sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control for analysis.
VHFs are a group of diseases that are caused by several distinct families of viruses.
He said a suspected index patient, who has also died, was brought to the Army hospital with febrile illness about 10 days ago.
“They are suspected to have died from acute VHF. This followed the management of a patient with febrile illness thought to have been the index patient with the disease 10 days ago, having presented with a febrile illness.
“The patient also died from the suspected disease condition. The common symptoms in those affected included fever, and nonspecific symptoms likened to malaria. However, the illness was complicated by abnormal liver function, acute kidney failure, encephalopathy, microangiopathy, elevated D-Dimer, among others.
“The A&E has been closed for thorough disinfection process and samples have been taken from suspected contacts and the deceased and sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) laboratory in Kano for analysis,” he stated.
Brig-Gen. Okoigi further disclosed that the Kaduna State Epidemiologists have been invited to help in unravelling the aetiology of the febrile illness with a view to curtailing the spread of the disease.
This, he said, was in addition to strict disease Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures that have been directed to be emplaced.
“Ribavirin injection (antiviral agent) has also been commenced on other suspected cases and those identified on contact tracing.
“44 NARHK have also been directed to suspend accepting new cases from the general public in the interim while the situation is being contained,” the Corps Commander added.
In a related development, the Ebonyi State Ministry of Health has said that Lassa fever had killed 14 people in the state.
The Director of Public Health at the Ministry, Dr Hyacinth Ebenyi, gave the figure in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday in Abakaliki.
Ebenyi said that the 14 cases were among the 29 confirmed cases of the disease recorded as at Feb. 20.
He expressed concern that no fewer than 110 suspected cases of the disease were recently recorded in the state.
“Yes, there has been an increase in the cases of lassa fever. The disease is really endemic in the state.
“It did not just start, it has been here, most times, during the dry season.
“So far, we have had suspected cases of 110, and out of this figure, we recorded 29 confirmed cases.
“Out of 29 cases, as of Tuesday, we lost 14 persons,” the director said.
He, however, urged the citizenry not to panic, giving the assurance that the state government was making efforts to stem the tide of the disease, advising the state residents to be cautious about eating rats and making contact with their fluids.
“Lassa fever is a killer-disease. People should stop eating rat. Do not allow it to have any contact with your food,” the director said.
He listed the symptoms of the disease to include high fever, general body weakness and headaches.
“These signs progress within a short time, and if nothing is done, the affected person will start to bleed from the body openings until it affects the important organs of the body, and next will be death.
“Affected persons should go to hospital for treatment immediately,” he said.
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