The Nigerian Army has confirmed “suspicious” outbreak of acute Viral Hemorrhagic disease, popularly known as Lassa Fever, in the Accident and Emergency unit of the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital (NARHK), Kaduna.
Army spokesperson, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement released on Thursday, February 22, said 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 Infection Prevention Control (IPC).
He 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 staff 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 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 way, all medical staff 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.
“As a responsive and responsible organization, the Nigerian Army has also escalated the development to other relevant national and state agencies.
“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.”
Nwachukwu said all Nigerian Army medical facilities in Kaduna and environs have been put at alert on the “need to employ necessary IPC measures and closely monitor patients, staff and family members.”
He urged the public to not panic, as adequate measures have already been put in place to contain the suspected outbreak.
The disease has already resulted in the death of three medical staff serving in the hospital and a patient, with some in critical condition.
CLICK HERE TO COMMENT
