The Oyo State Rapid Response Team (RRT) has confirmed four deaths suspected to be linked to Lassa fever outbreak in Saki West Local Government Area.
Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Dotun Oyelade, made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday in Ibadan.
Oyelade said the fatalities consisted of three males and a 32-year-old female who was preparing for her marriage.
He said the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, deployed the RRT to Saki following numerous calls from the area reporting an outbreak of Lassa fever.
“The team, consisting of the director of public health, the state epidemiologist, state disease notification officer, state laboratory focal persons, representatives from World Health Organization, among others, embarked on a comprehensive investigation to the scene.
“Background information is that one of the apprentices at a hospital, who had returned from Iwajowa, fell ill about two weeks before the incident, and was suspected to have introduced the infection.
“She likely transmitted it to her co-workers and the hospital owner.
“Three of the deceased exhibited typical symptoms of Lassa fever, including craniofacial bleeding, while the hospital owner showed fatigue and self-medicated with anti-malaria and antibiotics.
“His condition prompted hospital admission when his self-treatment failed,” he said.
Oyelade said that extensive contact tracing was conducted with particular focus on high-risk contacts who had been involved in the bathing and burial of the deceased.
He added that the hospital where all the deaths were recorded had been closed for decontamination.
Oyelade said the hospital that admitted the deceased health facility owner without being informed of the deaths from an ‘unknown’ illness, was also shut for decontamination and the doctor placed under surveillance.
According to him, public awareness campaigns were held to educate the community about Lassa fever, its transmission, symptoms and preventive measures.
He said that the RRT provided on-the-job training to health workers in the affected areas to reinforce infection prevention control protocols.
“Sample collection was also carried out on a person exhibiting symptoms, pending laboratory confirmation; the line listing of contacts is still in progress, focusing on individuals at high risk.
“Advocacy visits were also conducted to the palace of the Okere of Saki, who was represented by his second-in-command and was briefed on the outbreak and the necessary containment measures.
“Local government authorities in Saki West were equally informed and aligned with the efforts to manage the situation,” Oyelade said.
