NIGERIA - Suspected new human case of bf under investigation in Lagos

[Theresa42]

Hat-tip, DennisC!

5 April 2007
Suspected New Human Case of Bird Flu Under Investigation in Lagos

LAGOS, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A new suspected human case of the avian influenza virus is currently being investigated in Lagos State, Nigeria, according to a news release by Lagos State Ministry of Health on Tuesday. [Tuesday?!]

Jide Idris, acting commissioner of the ministry, was cited as saying that another suspected human case was found at the weekend and the case is now under investigation.

The samples of the suspected taken from the patient has been to Abuja for confirmatory tests and it is expected to get the result within one or two days.

Idris declined to disclose the identity of the patient, adding that the patient is a male Lagos resident and he is currently being taken care of at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Chief Medical Director of LUTH Akin Osibogun confirmed that the patient was in the hospital but saying that there was nothing to be panic about.

Osibogun said the patient was brought to LUTH on Saturday with a very high fever associated with respiratory tract problems, both of which were not responding to treatments by regular antibiotics.

He said it is still only suspicion. "We have sent fluid samples taken from the patient to the World Health Organization and the national Avian Influenza Crisis Management Center in Abuja for necessary tests and until the result is released, we should not speculate," he said. In early February, there were suspected human bird flu cases in Lagos involving 11 patients with two fatalities.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health...r_investigation_in/index.html?source=r_health

 

[Theresa42]

Re: NIGERIA - Suspected new human case of bf under investigation in Lagos

Suspected fresh case of bird flu in Lagos
By Bertram Nwannekanma (Lagos) and Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt)
April 4, 2007

WHILE the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was being awaited of last week's Integrated National Plan on Avian Influenza, Lagos State acting Commissioner for Health and Permanent Secretary, Dr. Jide Idris, yesterday hinted of fears of a possible fresh incident of human case of the avian influenza in the state.

Already, a sample from the male patient who was admitted in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, has been sent to the National Centre for the Prevention of Avian Influenza, Abuja for further analysis.

Idris, who spoke to journalists at the presentation of 80 cartoons of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) donated by Skye Bank to school children at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, yesterday said the patient manifested suspected symptoms of the disease.

He also promised to make the result of the test public today if the sample proved positive.

With the new development, Lagos State would have within two months recorded two human cases of the avian influenza. It recorded the first official casualty of avian influenza in Nigeria in February.

Idris however said there was no cause for alarm as the state will do everything possible to avert further outbreak, while further statements will be made on the matter in due course.

The development comes barely a week after an integrated national plan that should form Nigeria's frame-work for the management of all strains of the avian influenza was received by the chairman of the Multi-sectoral Steering Committee on Avian Influenza and Minister of Health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, in Abuja.

The Integrated Plan, received from Mr. Simon Strickland of the United Nations Avian Influenza Group was to serve as Nigeria's model for the prevention and management of avian influenza.

Lambo was quoted as saying at the presentation, which took place at his office, that the plan conforms to international best practices and will serve as a great resource for governments, development partners and other stakeholders.

The Integrated National Plan, The Guardian gathered, would be Nigeria's frame-work for the management of all strains of avian influenza, which defines the functions and responsibilities of ministries, parastatals, agencies, and all tiers of government - Federal, state and local - as well as the role of development partners and civil society organisations.

Lambo had commended the United Nations Group in Nigeria for its support in ensuring that the integrated plan was completed and promised that the plan would soon be presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations said Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has continued to spread in Nigeria because authorities have not adequately enforced effective movement control for poultry and poultry products out of infected areas.

Nigeria, Egypt and Indonesia, according to the FAO, have not been able to contain the disease effectively making them reservoirs of the virus for possible introduction to other countries.

The FAO in a statement issued yesterday said despite substantial progress in global efforts to bring the deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus strain under control, the disease continues to spread to new countries and to new areas in some countries where containment has not been successful.

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:...icle02+lagos+bird+flu+2007&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3

 

[Theresa42]

Re: NIGERIA - Suspected new human case of bf under investigation in Lagos

Hat-tip, Reveres!

Nweke Debunks Claim Of Fresh Bird Flu Case
April 16, 2007

The minister of information and communications, Frank Nweke Jnr., has debunked claims that there was any other human case of avian influenza reported in Nigeria since the beginning of the year.

The minister, quoted in a news bulletin from the Avian Influenza Crisis Management Centre, Abuja, and released on Thursday, noted that the "multi-Sectoral Steering Committee on the Management of Avian Influenza in Nigeria wishes to reassure the public that there is no new human case of Avian Influenza (HPAI H5N1) commonly called Bird Flu in Lagos State or anywhere else in Nigeria as speculated in some sections of the press."

According to the minister, "a fortnight ago, a 52-year old male living in Lagos, was admitted into a hospital after suffering from respiratory problems. He was tested for the H5N1 virus and after an exhaustive laboratory analysis by a team of experts at the Asokoro Reference Laboratory, Abuja, the result was negative.

The statement credited to Mr. Nweke disclosed that, "since the first human case of Avian Influenza was confirmed in Nigeria earlier this year the federal government and its partners have heightened surveillance activities on the disease in both humans and birds. All suspected cases of influenza-like illness or respiratory diseases have all been investigated for H5N1 virus infection and all the results were negative."

The minister urged the general public not to panic but to observe appropriate precautions as contained in various media campaigns and immediately report any suspected case to the nearest veterinary and human healthcare workers.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/agro_care/article03/