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| Jide Idris |
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.
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