FG To Contain Spread Of Yellow Fever – Official

The Federal Government on Tuesday expressed its readiness to contain further spread of yellow fever in the country.

The disease had been reported in Kwara state.

The Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, said this in a statement.

He also said the government would limit the impact of the killer ailment.

Ihekweazu said following the case of yellow fever in Kwara state, laboratory diagnosis was carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and confirmed at the Institute Pasteur, Dakar, Senegal.

He said a multi-agency Incident Management System had been constituted at the NCDC to ensure a rapid and coordinated response.

”In response to the case, and in line with WHO guidelines, a vaccination campaign is being planned to begin in the affected and surrounding Local Government Areas on 30th September to prevent further spread.

”Communication activities are being intensified to enlighten health care workers and the general public,” he said.

The CEO also said that an Emergency Operations Centre is being activated in the state to ensure a coordinated and efficient response at the state level.

The NCDC boss described yellow fever as an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected Aedes mosquitoes.

He listed the symptoms to include fever, headache, jaundice (yellowness of the eyes), muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.