The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, has identified febrile rash illness as the probable cause of death of 25 children in Otodo Gbame community in Eti-osa Local Government Area of the state.
Idris, who disclosed this at a press conference in Lagos on Friday, said the cause of death had yet to be confirmed as the government was still expecting results of the blood and water samples sent to the Virology Reference Laboratory at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba and the Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory, Ikeja respectively.
He, however, noted that preliminary investigations suggest that the children might have died of febrile rash illness.
He explained that the information gathered by the ministry stated that about 24 of the 34 children died of the disease.
Idris said, “The ministry drew up a plan to investigate the outbreak, verify reported deaths and report findings and recommendations. The disease causing the outbreak has yet to be confirmed. However, the signs and symptoms are suggestive of febrile rash illnesses. We are awaiting the results from the two laboratories.
“We have notified the World Health Organisation and the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja and a team of epidemiologists have done investigations and appropriate measures have been instituted to prevent further spread of the disease.”
The commissioner said that the ministry would dialogue with residents of the community to build confidence and guarantee the safety of their children by providing a befitting health centre.
Idris also urged Lagos residents to immunise their children against vaccine-preventable diseases.
PUNCH
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