Two doctors, one nurse and a patient (the index case) have died of acute Viral Hemorrhagic disease, popularly called Lassa fever, at the Accident and Emergency unit of the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital (NARHK) in Kaduna.
Although many more medical personnel may have been affected,
the Nigeria Army headquarters in a statement, urged the public not to panic
as the situation was bein addressed
properly adressed.
In the statement released by the Director Army Public
Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Nigerian Army said: “In line with
best practice in managing such a situation, contact tracing to what is believed
to be the index case has been made to a non-military patient who was referred
to 44 NARHK from a peripheral medical facility. The suspected index patient was
managed but subsequently died two weeks ago in the hospital.
“Sadly, three medical personnel of the hospital that had
direct contact with the suspected index case have also died within the past 48
hours.
“In response to the suspected outbreak, directives have been
passed that Infection Prevention Control (IPC) measures in and around all
military health care facilities in Kaduna be stepped up as part of measures to
curtail further spread and loss of lives.
“In this wise, all medical personnel of the hospital, their
family members and other patients on the contact tracing list have commenced
appropriate management and, so far, nothing of concern has been observed.
“Furthermore, the entire hospital facility has been
disinfected, while immediate closure and evacuation of the Accident and
Emergency ward of the 44 NARHK has been ordered to allow for thorough
fumigation, decontamination and emplacement of other measures of IPC…
“As of the time of this statement, samples have been taken
from suspected contacts and the deceased and sent to the National Centre for
Disease Control (NCDC) laboratory in Kano for analysis. Similarly, the Kaduna
State epidemiologists have been invited to help in unraveling the unfolding
development.”
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