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Danger Next Door …As Lassa Fever Claims Casualty In Rivers
Since 1969, when two nurses on a mission in Nigeria were killed by the very deadly disease known as Lassa Fever to date, not many ever imagined that a danger perceived to be far far away from home could be such a health emergency in Rivers State. But State Commissioner of Health, Dr Sampson Parker confirmed last Friday, that Lassa Fever might just be next door and called for caution, better hygienic living and total avoidance of self-medication when any feveral symptoms are observed.
Addressing newsmen in his office, at the state Secretariat complex, Port Harcourt, a worried Health Commissioner announced that so so close, Lassa Fever had already claimed its first casualty in the state, while six other cases have been confirmed.
To tackle the epidemic, he said the more than 110 primary health care centres have been equipped to face the challenge, and adequate medical personnel trained and dispatched accordingly, while aggressive enlightenment has been launched to alert the citizenry, particularly rural dwellers of the lethal nature of the viral threat.
Dr Parker explained that a Rapid Response Team is already at work, pushing Rapid Diagnosis test kits for use by the various healthcare centres, in order to institutionalize them so that no more medical staff is taken unawares. Headed by the Chief Medical Director of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Prof A .C Ojule, the quick response team had been inaugurated Monday, last week, in a swift reaction to curb the viral scourge. It is made-up of state health officials, their counterparts from the Federal Health Ministry and the UPTH and are already on top of the situation.
While that is on, the Public Health Department of the state Ministry of Health has designed, published and started circulating flyers on facts of Lassa Fever, for the proper understanding of the public.
So, what exactly is Lassa Fever? Where from? What are the signs and symptoms? How are Human beings infected? How can Lassa Fever be prevented?
All these questions are answered in My Agony today, as a public service contribution of The Tide Newspapers.
History
Lassa Fever, as stated earlier is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that is native to West Africa. Lassa Fever was first diagnosed in 1969, in a community called Lassa, when two nurses on mission in Nigeria died from it. The newly discovered Lassa Virus takes its name after that same Nigerian town The Tide research revealed to be in Borno State, where the first diagnosis occurred. The Lassa Virus comes from the family of viruses called Arenaviridae. Carried by animals, it is a zoonotic RNA virus with a single strand.
Lassa Fever is endemic to areas of West Africa. Cases have been reported in Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. As the virus is carried by various species of rodents throughout West Africa, Lassa Fever has a geographic range all throughout the region and potentially beyond.
It is estimated that there are anywhere between 100,000 to 300,000 individuals infected by the Lassa Virus each year. Approximately 5,000 of such cases result in death. Parts of Liberia and Sierra Leone report that nearly 16% of the population in hospitals have Lassa Fever, which gives a crude picture of the severity of the disease in the region.
The reservoir of the Lassa Virus is the multimmammate rat from the genus Mastomys. At least two species of such rodents act as hosts to the virus in Sierra Leone. The rodents reproduce very quickly and often, creating large populations that populate the forests and the savannas of East, Central, and West Africa. Mastomys rodents can colonize human establishments. Such factors make the transmission of the Lassa Virus to humans relatively easy.
Human’s Infection
Mastomys rodents excrete the virus in their droppings and urine. The virus is transmitted to humans when an individual comes in direct contact with the contaminated waste. Alternately, a person may touch objects or consume food that have been contaminated with rodent waste. The virus could also enter through open wounds or sores. Inhalation of the virus is possible when a person breathes in minute particles of contaminated air and is known as airborne or aerosol transmission. In some parts of Africa, Mastomys rodents are eaten as a food source so infection may happen when they are captured and prepared for consumption.
Transmission may occur from person to person when an individual makes contact with any tissue, blood, excretions or secretions of an infected person, but casual contact will not spread the virus. Nosocomial transmission can also occur with contaminated needles or other medical equipment.
Symptoms To Watch
The symptoms of Lassa Fever begin approximately one to three weeks after the initial infection. Symptoms may include pain in the chest wall, fever, back pain, abdominal pain, sore throat, conjunctivitis, swelling in the face, diarrhea, mucosal bleeding and proteinuria. There have been reports of neurological issues such as tremors, encephalitis, and hearing loss. The symptoms of Lassa Fever are so diverse that diagnosis can be challenging.
Clinical Diagnosis
The diagnosis of Lassa Fever requires laboratory testing. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assays are used to find Lassa antigen as well as IgG and IgM antibodies. It takes about a week to culture the virus. In post-mortem examination, immunohistochemistry is used on tissue specimens. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction can be used to detect the virus as well, but this method is typically reserved for research work rather than clinical.
Likely Complication
Deafness is a standard complication of Lassa Fever and can occur in varying degrees in approximately a third of all cases. Permanent loss of hearing is typical and seems to have no correlation to the severity of the case. Another grave complication of Lassa Fever is sudden abortion.
Fatality Level
Approximately 20% of hospitalized Lassa Fever patients die from the disease. Approximately one percent of infection cases without disease results in death. The death rate for Lassa Fever is especially high for pregnant women in their third trimester. Approximately 95% of unborn fetuses die if the mother is infected.
Treatment And Control
Treatment for Lassa Fever requires an antiviral medication called Ribavirin. Ribavirin is especially effective during the early stages of Lassa Fever. Supportive treatment such as maintaining blood pressure, oxygenation, and electrolyte and fluid levels are required for a full recovery. Any secondary infections that arise should be treated.
High Risk Areas
People living in areas with Mastomys rodents are at high risk. Medical care workers in such areas should take care to wear protective gear when treating any patient. Preventive measures include avoiding contact with rodents, keeping food in rodent-proof receptacles, and practicing excellent hygiene of the person and the household. Do not consume rodents; pest control and extermination is recommended. When nursing a person with Lassa Fever, wear protective clothing, gloves, and masks and take care not to come in contact with any bodily fluids. Practice proper equipment sterilization and keep infected individuals isolated from others until full recovery.
So, for Emphasis, How can Lassa Fever be prevented?
•By avoiding contact with rats (mastomys Rodents) especially in the regions where outbreak occurs
• Put away food in Rats proof containers
• Keep the surrounding clean. It helps drive rats from entering your homes. .
• Use rat traps in and around your homes
• When caring for patients with lassa fever, apply Isolation precaution methods. Eg (1) wearing of mask, Gloves, Gowns and Goggles (2) Use infection control measures eg Sterilization and Isolating infected patients from contact with unprotected persons until the disease has run its course
• Carry out effective health Education especially in high-risk areas about ways to decreasing rat population in their homes.
Here in Rivers State all necessary steps have been taken to ensure that the scourage is curtailed and medical personnel free from infection, with the urgent training of medical staff, provision of required drugs and an aggressive public enlightenment of the public. But all these would not achieve the desired ends unless other neighbouring states take similar urgent proactive measures.
More importantly, the relevant social institutions must make necessary arrangement to remove from the streets destitutes and others with all manner of contagious afflictions and be quarantined so that society may be spared the agony of suffering for being a neighbour’s keeper.
My Agony is that while Rivers is still battling population explosion on account of its cosmopolitan pedigree and being heart of the nation’s oil and gas production, even rodents, hitherto unknown to our culture and clime, not only seek to be part of the population, but a deadly one.
With additional information from on-line research
Soye Wilson Jamabo
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.