Strange disease kills 25 children in Lagos

TVC E. Strange illness strucks Lagos residents of Otodogame community in Eti-Osa,  as they have been thrown into mourning following the mysterious death of their children.

Investigation reveals that children between the ages of 2-8 years old in Otodogame, a slum community are dying in their numbers following an outbreak of a strange epidemic.

According to the residents, about 70 children have died in the last six weeks in a strange way residents are attributing to the lack of immunization of infants in the community in the last three years.

The Lagos state commissioner of health, Jide Idris, has confirmed the death of 25 children who died after an outbreak of a strange disease, Febrile Rash Illnesses (FRI) in Otodo-Gbame community, Ikate Lekki area of Lagos.

Speaking at a news conference, the commissioner said there were 34 cases of sick children with FRI, noting that the graves of 20 children have been identified by their parents.

He 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.

“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 strange ailment was said to have started in January 2016. After contracting the ailment, the victims developed rashes similar to measles and they die two to three days later.

The commissioner said the team of epidemiologists from the state ministry of health are yet to come up with the report on the source of the strange infection, adding that the signs and symptoms of the illness suggests Febrile Rash.

“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”he said.

Idris urged the residents of the community ensure they carry out basic environmental sanitation, including proper disposal of refuse, and avoiding open defecation, as well as regular hand washing with soap and water, maintaining personal hygiene, adequate nutrition, and antenatal care for pregnant women.

The government is said to be intensifying efforts to conduct mapping of all slums and blighted areas in the state towards reducing the health hazards associated with such areas.

He enjoined the people to join hands with the government in the identification of slums and in ensuring environmental sanitation at all times. And members of the public and health workers are to report any strange illness to the nearest health facility or call the following lines- 08037170614, 08055281442 and 08023169485.