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The Lagos State government has identified the strange illness that have killed 24 children in Otodo Gbame community in Eti-Osa local government area as Febrile Rash Illness (FRI).
The State Commissioner for Health, Jide Idris on Friday confirmed that the kids were killed by an outbreak febrile rash illnesses (FRI).
Idris who announced that the outbreak was first identified by the Medical Officer of the LGA on the 9th February also announced that thirty-four other cases are currently under examination. The victims are said to be within the ages of eight months and 72 months.
Idris also said his ministry has already notified the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) about the outbreak.
He revealed also that the state has gathered a team of epidemiologists to investigate the outbreak and do whatever it takes to stop the spread of the disease.
“Blood samples (and throat swabs) from the patients and water samples from the community have been taken to the Virology Reference Laboratory at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory (DQCL), LASUTH, Ikeja respectively. The source of the infection is still under investigation.”
Otodo Gbame community, according to Idris is an expansive, sandy riverine, flood prone and camp-lie settlements with an estimated population of 100,000 people.
“The people are mainly Egun, however, there are other tribes in the minority. The community is a slum with waste deposited at different spots. There are many scattered shallow wells in the community. The water from the wells is found to be used mostly for bathing, washing and cooking. Majority of the citizen claimed it is not used for drinking but a few said they sometimes drink from the well. The community head Chief Hunpe Dansu confirmed the outbreak of the Febrile Rash illnesses.”
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Idris enjoined the people to join hands with the government in the identification of slums and in ensuring environmental sanitation at all times.
And members of the public and health workers are to report any strange illness to the nearest health facility or call the following lines- 08037170614, 08055281442 and 08023169485.
