THE Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Lokoja, Kogi State, has confirmed three cases of Lassa fever and one death in one week in the hospital.
Dr Bernard Ododo, the Head of Clinical Services (HCSs) FMC Lokoja, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Sunday.
Ododo said that five suspected cases of Lassa fever were reported in the hospital in one week, out of which three were positive, and one died.
”Five suspected cases reported at the hospital in the last one week; three already tested positive, of which one died. Two cases were transferred to Lassa Fever Management Center at Irua Specialist Hospital in Edo State.
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”Two others (of which one died) has their results awaited from NCDC Laboratory in Abuja,” Ododo said.
The doctor, therefore, advised residents to adopt all the necessary precautions to prevent the outbreak of epidemic-prone diseases in the state.
He advised the people to maintain high hygienic principle, keep rodents away from residence and foodstuff materials.
He further urged the public to seek early medical attention in case of fever, headache, sore throat, vomiting, joint pain, abdominal pain and at a late stage; bleeding from body orifices.
The doctor advised the relatives or caregivers to patients, to be careful and use gloves whenever they touch or evacuate effluents and wastes from the patient.
”For health caregivers, universal safety precaution is key. Wash hands with sanitizers, glove and kitting on personal protection equipment kit (PPE) are necessary.
“But first is to uphold a high index of suspicion while clerking patient with likely Lassa fever signs and symptoms on arrival to the hospital.
“Treatment is more effective if detected early and treatment commenced immediately. Lassa is highly infectious and contagious, everyone must beware,” Ododo advised.
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