Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, on Friday said the government is still investigating the source of the strange disease that has killed no fewer than 25 children at Otodo-Gbame Community in Ikate, Lekki area of the state.
The yet-to-be identified disease, which started sometime in January 2016, had brought panic to the community predominantly dominated by the Egun people of the state.
Affected children developed rashes, which was similar to the symptoms of measles, and died two to three days after contracting the disease.
Speaking at a news conference, Idris said a team of epidemiologists from the state Ministry of Health had yet to come up with the report on the source of the strange infection.
He said: “However, the signs and symptoms are suggestive of Febrile Rash Illnesses.
“Blood samples and throat swabs from the patients and water samples from the community have been taken to the Virology Reference Laboratory.
“This is at Lagos University Teaching Hospital and Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja respectively.
“The source of the infection is still under investigation and until we know the required source, we cannot say for sure what is causing it.”
The commissioner said the outbreak confirmed has 34 cases of sick children, with Febrile Rash Illnesses, had been line listed.
He said the fatality of the outbreak was also confirmed.
Idris said: “The graves of 20 children who died from the FRI since the day of onset of signs and symptoms in the first case on January 6 were identified by their parents.
“Also, 34 cases have been line listed so far with 17 males and 17 females; 17 dead patients have been identified with nine males and eight females, all are within the age range of eight and 72 months,” Idris said.
He, however, urged the citizenry to continue to practice health promotion and disease prevention measures.
According to him, such measures should include, basic environmental sanitation, including proper disposal of refuse, and avoiding open defecation.
Idris said: “Also, regular hand washing with soap and water, maintaining personal hygiene, adequate nutrition, and antenatal care for pregnant women.
“Immunisation of children against deadly vaccine, preventable childhood diseases and regular checkups toward ensuring early diagnosis and prompt treatment of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.”
