Two Nigerians die of swine flu, cases increase to 11
By Niyi Odebode, Published: Tuesday, 19 Jan 2010
Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin
The Federal Ministry of Health, on Monday said that cases of swine flu in the country had increased from one to 11.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, who disclosed this in a statement by its Special Assistant on Communications, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape, also said that two people had died of the ailment.
The minister said, ?As at January 18, 2010, Nigeria has recorded 11 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A/HINI and two deaths from the pandemic.?
According to him, the most recent case of the deaths was that of a 38-year-old woman in Lagos.
The minister said, ?She was from Bayelsa State but lived in Lagos. She had a history of travel to the United States of America about three months previously.
?She became sick six weeks ago and died on Tuesday January 5, 2010 at Reddington Hospital Victoria Island, Lagos State.?
Osotimehin stated that the ministry and the Lagos State Government had collected samples from a case for further investigation.
?Eight out of the 40 samples of close contacts collected were found to be positive for Influenza A/ H1N1,? he added.
The minister disclosed that epidemiologists from 36 states and Federal Capital Territory had met surveillance officers of the World Health Organisation with the aim of deploying vaccines in various parts of the country
Osotimehin said, ?Enhanced disease surveillance including active case search in some designated health facilities is on in all the States of the Federation and FCT.?
It will be recalled that the country first recorded the first case of the flu on November 4 last year when it was diagnosed in a nine-year-old American girl resident in Lagos.
There were also reports that a Nigerian woman died of the flu during the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia on November 24 last year. Saudi authorities stated that the woman was not vaccinated against the disease.
The reports, were however denied by the minister of health, who said that the ministry was not aware of the death.
By Niyi Odebode, Published: Tuesday, 19 Jan 2010
Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin
The Federal Ministry of Health, on Monday said that cases of swine flu in the country had increased from one to 11.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, who disclosed this in a statement by its Special Assistant on Communications, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape, also said that two people had died of the ailment.
The minister said, ?As at January 18, 2010, Nigeria has recorded 11 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A/HINI and two deaths from the pandemic.?
According to him, the most recent case of the deaths was that of a 38-year-old woman in Lagos.
The minister said, ?She was from Bayelsa State but lived in Lagos. She had a history of travel to the United States of America about three months previously.
?She became sick six weeks ago and died on Tuesday January 5, 2010 at Reddington Hospital Victoria Island, Lagos State.?
Osotimehin stated that the ministry and the Lagos State Government had collected samples from a case for further investigation.
?Eight out of the 40 samples of close contacts collected were found to be positive for Influenza A/ H1N1,? he added.
The minister disclosed that epidemiologists from 36 states and Federal Capital Territory had met surveillance officers of the World Health Organisation with the aim of deploying vaccines in various parts of the country
Osotimehin said, ?Enhanced disease surveillance including active case search in some designated health facilities is on in all the States of the Federation and FCT.?
It will be recalled that the country first recorded the first case of the flu on November 4 last year when it was diagnosed in a nine-year-old American girl resident in Lagos.
There were also reports that a Nigerian woman died of the flu during the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia on November 24 last year. Saudi authorities stated that the woman was not vaccinated against the disease.
The reports, were however denied by the minister of health, who said that the ministry was not aware of the death.
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