Date: 2017-09-19

The Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole has authenticated a case of Yellow Fever in a young girl in OkeOwa Community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Adewole announced the development Monday after laboratory diagnosis was carried out at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, and confirmed at the Institut Pasteur, Dakar, Senegal on the 12th of September 2017.

"A joint Team from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the World Health Organisation Country Office has been deployed to support the State in carrying out a detailed investigation and risk analysis," the Minister stated.

Assuring that all the Agencies of the Federal Ministry of Health and their partners are working together to support the Government of Kwara State to respond in order to prevent further spread, Adewole said the State Epidemiology Team has begun investigation in the affected area and surrounding communities.

"A vaccination campaign is already being planned in the affected area to prevent further spread. A single dose of Yellow Fever vaccine, which is included in Nigeria’s routine immunisation schedule given at nine-months, is free, and sufficient to confer sustained protection of up to 10 years.

"Other methods of prevention include using insect repellent, sleeping under a long-lasting insecticide treated net, ensuring proper sanitation and getting rid of stagnant water or breeding space for mosquitoes", Adewole said.

Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected Aedes mosquitoes and the symptoms include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. In severe cases, bleeding may occur from the mouth, nose, eyes or stomach.