Lagos Govt. Urges Residents To Remain Calm

The Lagos State Government has called on residents of the state to remain calm as it is doing everything possible to control the spread of the Lassa fever virusSpeaking to Channels Television today in Lagos the Deputy Director of Health Education at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs Omowunmi George, said that the hospital where the only victim of the virus is being treated will remain under surveillance until further notice.

She explained efforts being made by the state government to prevent the spread of the virus. “What they have done is to contain all those people (that had contact with the hospital) by the time he was moved.

“There were still some people there, as at the time it was confirmed that this is Lassa fever, we had to move in quickly to ensure that those who were still there are kept there so that they do not go out again and start spreading it (that is if they have it anyway.

She explained that the possibility of the patient having contacted the disease in Lagos was slim, “The way it is presenting does not look like he got it in Lagos,” she said.

“Do not forget also that many of the northern states are actually recording cases of Lassa fever. He came into Lagos, I think on the 9th, (of January) and it was less than one week that he was in Lagos that he reported sick, so it means that it could not have been in Lagos.

She warned that it is impossible to completely get rid of rats in the community but called for de-ratisation to help reduce their population.

She added, however, “We are happy to tell everybody that there is only one case, up till now, it is still one case and the only case is still stable because he is undergoing treatment..