A suspected outbreak of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) has claimed the lives of three health workers and a patient at the emergency ward of the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.
In a memorandum dated 21 February, obtained by Lafiya360, the military reported that the health workers were managing a patient with an unusual illness.
The memo, signed by SO Okoigi, a brigadier general, was addressed to the headquarters of the Nigerian Army Corps, Bonny Cantonment, Victory Island, Lagos State.
The statement read in part; “The Accident and Emergency (A&E) Dept of 44 NARHK has witnessed the loss of three members of staff and a patient in the last 48 hours with some in critical condition.
“They are suspected to have died from Acute Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF). This followed the management of a patient with febrile illness thought to have been the index patient with the disease 10 days ago, having presented with a febrile illness. The patient also died from the suspected disease condition.”
The army said the common symptoms in those affected include fever, and nonspecific symptoms likened to malaria.
“However, the illness was complicated by
abnormal liver function, acute kidney failure, encephalopathy, microangiopathy, elevated D-Dimer among others,” the memo stated.
Measures taken so far
The army said it has shut down the emergency ward of the hospital for thorough disinfection process and samples had been taken from suspected contacts of the deceased and sent to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), laboratory in Kano for analysis.
Likewise, Kaduna State epidemiologists have been called upon to assist in determining the cause of the febrile illness in order to curtail spread of the disease.
According to the memo, “This is in addition to strict disease Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures that have been directed to be emplaced. Ribavirin injection (antiviral agent) has also been commenced on other suspected cases and those identified on contact tracing.
“44 NARHK have also been directed to suspend accepting new cases from the general public in the interim while the situation is being contained. The significant risk of contracting VHF among healthcare workers underscores the need to strengthen IPC practices across all NA health facilities.”
The army said prevention remains the best approach in dealing with such outbreak since treatment options are limited against a background of high mortality often recorded as in the current case at 44 NARHK.
It said this can be achieved by raising the level of hospital preparedness for VHF outbreaks through capacity building and ensuring the use of universal precautions when dealing with all patients.