Nigerian Government has confirmed a case of Yellow Fever in a young girl in Oke Owa Community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, said that laboratory diagnosis was carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH and confirmed at the Institut Pasteur, Dakar, Senegal on the 12th of September 2017.
He said following the confirmation of the case, the State Epidemiology Team has begun investigation in the affected area and surrounding communities.
“A joint Team from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the World Health Organisation Country Office has been deployed to support the State in carrying out a detailed investigation and risk analysis.
“An Outbreak Control Team has also been constituted to ensure rapid and coordinated decision-making,” Director, Press and Public Relations, Mrs Boade Akinola said in a statement.
Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected aedes mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Some infected people may not experience any of these symptoms. In severe cases, bleeding may occur from the mouth, nose, eyes or stomach.
The Minister of Health, has assured that all the Agencies of the Federal Ministry of Health and their partners will work together to support the Government of Kwara to respond in order to prevent further spread.
A vaccination campaign is already being planned in the affected area to prevent further spread.