KADUNA INITIATES INVESTIGATION FOLLOWING DEATH OF THREE ARMY HOSPITAL STAFF DUE TO LASSA FEVER

A potential outbreak of viral hemorrhagic fever (Lassa fever) has resulted in the fatalities of three personnel at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.

This information was disclosed in a communique by the Acting Commander of the Nigerian Army Medical Corps, disseminated to all Nigerian Army healthcare establishments and shared with Daily Trust in Kaduna.

As per the communication, “Over the past 48 hours, the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of 44 NARHK has witnessed the demise of three staff members and a patient, some of whom are in critical condition.

They are suspected to have succumbed to Acute Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF). This follows the treatment of a patient with a febrile illness, believed to be the index case of the disease, 10 days ago. The patient, who initially presented with a febrile illness, also succumbed to the suspected disease.

The prevalent symptoms among the affected individuals included fever and non-specific manifestations resembling malaria. However, the illness became complicated with abnormal liver function, acute kidney failure, encephalopathy, microangiopathy, elevated D-Dimer levels, among other complications.

The A&E section has been temporarily closed for a comprehensive disinfection process, and samples have been collected from potential contacts, as well as the deceased, and dispatched to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) laboratory in Kano for thorough analysis.”

Simultaneously, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has instructed the State Ministry of Health to promptly investigate and verify the situation at the 44 Army Reference Hospital facility following the emergence of a perilous Lassa disease outbreak on the premises.

Maryam Ahmadu-Suka, Kaduna; From the News Source: DailyTrust