…Salako mandates EHCON to issue de-ratization certificates to mitigate disease spread, confirms 5 deaths
By Dele Ogbodo
Following the death of five persons from Lassa fever contamination in Kaduna State, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako, has revealed Federal Government’s plan to launch nation-wide DE-RATIZATION framework exercise.
The exercise, government believes will minimize the occurrence of the disease in states that experience consistent annual outbreaks during December to March season.
The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Mahmud Kambari, made the disclosure on Monday while providing update and insight on the outbreak of the disease which was first reported at the the 44 Army Referral Hospital in Kaduna.
He said: “On the 21st of February, 2024, the management of the hospital reported a suspected outbreak, which led to the Kaduna State Ministry of Health identifying 12 suspected cases.Out of these cases, 6 have been confirmed, and unfortunately, 5 deaths have been recorded.”
In response to this outbreak, Salako, added that the Ministry moved swiftly to Kaduna State in line with the strategic infection prevention, mitigation, and control protocols under the leadership of the Environmental Health Council (EHCON) and the Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health of the ministry, with the aim of checkmating and mitigating the loss and spread.
Additionally, he said EHCON, led by its CEO, Dr. Yakubu Mohammed Baba, was tasked with conducting an investigation to determine the environmental route of transmission and advice on measures to reduce the spread of the outbreak through public health vector control pillars, which falls under the mandate of the Ministry.
The Minister, said: “The team visited the affected facility (44 Army Referral Hospital) on Friday the 23th of February, 2024 and gathered as follows: The general hygiene and cleanliness of the hospital was assessed and found to be adequate, the measures in place to prevent the spread of the disease through disinfection and de-contamination were also assessed and deemed effective.
“The team confirmed the efficacy of the treatment by using an ITP machine, which established that the hospital used sodium hydrochloride in the correct proportion and formulation.”
Salako, commended the environmental health personnel of the facility for their efforts in ensuring the safety of the facility, explaining that de-ratization measures be emplaced within the facility to reduce the population of the disease-carrying vector, specifically the rats.
He said: “Furthermore, the team also had a meeting with the state emergency response team, during which the State Epidemiologist provided information on the etiological pattern of the disease.
“As of the 23th of February, 2024, there were 12 suspected cases recorded, with 6 resulting in mortality. Additionally, 2 of the suspected cases originated from another facility, the Barau Dikko Hospital, and 92 persons are currently under surveillance as contact persons.
“To combat the outbreak, the Federal Ministry of Environment has implemented the following interventions under the Environmental Health pillar: “Dispatch of vector wax block rodenticide to Kaduna for massive deratization of suspected facilities. ii. Activation of all Environmental Health personnel in the state for surveillance, to identify rat infestations in the communities, districts, and wards, and report such cases for treatment.
“The compliance of all health facilities, education facilities, hotels, restaurants, recreation facilities, markets, motor parks, and other public facilities in the state with the massive de-ratization exercise as a matter of regulation.
“EHCON and Environmental Health authorities will issue deratization certificates or exemptions to these facilities to prevent the spread of the disease. Military and para-military formations have also been directed to embark on a massive deratization exercise in all their facilities.”
The Minister also directed EHCON to provide capacity building for Environmental Health professionals on the application of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the mitigation and control of Lassa fever and other emerging and re-emerging diseases.
On lasting solution, Salako, challenged medical personnel and specialists in academia to conduct research and develop new innovations to address the challenges associated with the disease.