The Federal Ministry of Health has confirmed that the first case of the dreaded Swine Flu (H1N1) has been recorded in Nigeria.

A statement signed by the Special Assistant (Communi-cation) to the minister, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape, yesterday said: “The first case of the Influenza A (H1N1) otherwise known as Swine Flu has been reported in Nigeria of a nine-year-old American girl who resides in Lagos.”

The girl had manifested symptoms suspected to be those of swine flu such as fever, sore throat, nasal congestion and nausea, and had been taken to the American Consular clinic in Lagos.

Before treatment was admitted to her, nasal specimens were taken for routine tests.

“Subsequently, the girl recovered fully with symptomatic treatment after five days of duration of illness,” the statement said.

Ojuolape said sequel to the discovery, medical checks were performed on other members of the girl’s household and the students of the school she attends but none tested positive to the disease.

The girl’s mother was said to have had mild symptoms of the disease but had recovered fully, while all others who had regular contacts with the girl were tested and found negative.

The Lagos State Ministry of Health whose domain the first case of the flu was recorded was said to have carried out surveillance, performing medical checks and screening residents but has not discovered any other victim.

The ministry assured Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Health and all the states’ Ministries of Health had strengthened their preparedness and response plans and had put in place enhanced surveillance to pick up and contain any case that might occur.

Meanwhile, the statement said currently all the 36 states’ epidemiologists have commenced meeting in Kaduna to fine-tune the country’s coordinated response to possible outbreaks of an epidemic.

It assured Nigerians that in case of any eventuality, the Federal Ministry of Health had made available in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adequate quantities of Tamiflu, the antiviral drug for treatment, and other medical supplies for containment of any case of the Influenza.

It said the Federal Ministry of Health had also strengthened and intensified expanded public awareness and sensitisation campaigns to improve public understanding and knowledge about the pandemic in order to further prevent or contain the influenza outbreak in the country.

The Federal Government, the statement claimed, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) had swung into action to make large quantity of vaccines available throughout the country.

“We want to reassure all Nigerians that there is no need to panic and that the Ministry is working together with our partners and all the States’ Ministries of Health to make sure that Nigerians are protected from the pandemic,’’ the statement said.

The Ministry appealed to Nigerians to embark on routine precautionary measures, such as washing the hands with soap and water often and covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.



Source: Thisdayonline.com