Lagos’ “Strange illness” is measles!

… Health commissioner confirms outbreak

The strange outbreak of febrile rash illnesses that claimed the lives of many young children in Otodo Gbame community of Etiosa local government area of Lagos state, has now been confirmed as measles. The Lagos commissioner of health Dr. Jide Idris, made this known in a press release yesterday.
The commissioner revealed that all the blood samples taken for laboratory investigation showed that the disease was measles.
“The results of Laboratory investigation have confirmed Measles Virus as the cause of the Epidemic FRI.
“All the five blood samples taken to the Central Public Health Laboratory, Yaba tested positive for IgM, a blood marker for recent infection with Measles Virus. In addition, four (4) throat swabs and one (1) blood sample investigated at the Virology Reference Laboratory, LUTH indicated the presence of Measles Virus through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique.
“The result of the well water samples analysed at the Drug Quality Control Laboratory yielded several pathogens. This is an indication that the well water is not safe for human consumption,” the release said.
It will be recalled that the state embarked on a mass imuunisation against measles earlier this month.
During the weekend, Dr. Idris, also informed journalist that the State is intensifying efforts to conduct mapping of all slums and blighted areas in Lagos towards reducing the health hazards associated with such areas.
“Intensive awareness creation, community mobilization and health education is currently ongoing.
Te state has also initiated immediate immunization of children with measles vaccine. A total of Five Hundred and Eighty-Seven eligible children were immunized with measles vaccine and administered with Vitamin A”, the report said.
So far, Twenty (20) children aged 9-72 months died from the FRI outbreak, while thirty four (34) cases of children with Febrile Rash Illnesses (FRI) were line listed and managed in health facilities.
The Commisioner called people to join hands with the government in ensuring environmental sanitation at all times in other to avoid the spread of the disease.