Culled from: Rivers State Ministry of Health @MOHRiversState

From the Office of the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Rivers State

Subject: Addressing the Lassa Fever Outbreak in Rivers State: A Call to Collective Action

Fellow citizens and residents of Rivers State.

It is with mixed feelings that I inform you of the latest outbreak of #LassaFever in Rivers State. The first case was confirmed on the 4th of February 2024. So far, four cases of Lassa Fever which were presented at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital have been confirmed. One of which was diagnosed post-mortem. The other 3 cases have been treated, discharged, and reunited with their families. A total of 72 contacts were placed on surveillance and 30 of them have already exited the follow-up scheme having completed the mandatory incubation period in good health.

We express our sincere commiserations with the families who may have been affected – in one way or another – by this outbreak.

The team of the State Ministry of Health, @RSUTH_PH, @NCDCgov, and the stakeholders of the multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, including @WHONigeria, are working assiduously and synergistically to ensure the protection of lives in the course of this outbreak.

It is important to note that Lassa Fever is spread by direct contact with infected faeces or urine of rats, while person to person transmission occurs mainly by contact with infected urine and blood of infected individuals. The common symptoms which manifest within about six to 21 days of the incubation period include: unexplained fever, rigours, cough, muscle pain, sore throat, facial swelling, weakness, diarrhoea, constipation, seizures, deafness and unexplained bleeding.

On behalf of the governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir @SimFubaraKSC, I assure you of our concerted and dedicated commitment to containing this outbreak. Working with very experienced teams, we have in stock sufficient quantities of commodities and materials to overcome this outbreak in no distant time. In addition, all health service centres are kindly advised to maintain simple triage systems for all patients and sustain the standard infection prevention principles required for service delivery.

The public is also enjoined to:

1.  Promote good community hygiene and prevent rodents from entering homes.
2. Keep food and water covered to prevent contamination by rodents.
3. Store grains and other foodstuff in rodent-proof containers.
4. Dispose of garbage neatly and maintain clean households and environments.
5. Do not dry food items in open places.
6. Do not touch rats with bare hands.
7. The use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is recommended.
8. Avoid direct contact with blood and body fluids while caring for sick persons.
9. Remember to wash your hands with soap and water regularly.

As we pass through this period, let me humbly remind us of our collective responsibility to maintain the best possible environmental hygiene and uphold standard prevention protocols for our collective safety. Prevention, they say, is better than cure.

For further information or inquiries, please call the following numbers:

0805 610 9538
0703 949 9930
0803 312 4314

Thank you and God bless.

Dr @Adaeze_Oreh,
Honourable Commissioner for Health, Rivers State.

#Health4AllRivers
#lassafeveroutbreak
#lassafeverawareness
#lassafeverprevention

@UNICEF_Nigeria @rivers_phcmb @RSUTH_PH  @NCDCgov @MobilePunch