Nigeria records first case of A/H1N1 flu
Nigeria records first case of A/H1N1 flu
21:31, November 05, 2009 
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The Nigerian federal government on Wednesday confirmed that the first case of the dreaded A/H1N1 flu has been recorded in the country, local media reported on Thursday.
Babatunde Osotimilehin, Nigeria's minister of health disclosed this in a statement issued to reporters on Wednesday, noting that the case was diagnosed in a nine-year-old American girl who resides in Lagos.
The girl had manifested symptoms suspected to be those of A/H1N1 flu such as fever, sore throat, nasal congestion and nausea, and had been taken to the American Consular clinic in Lagos, the report said.
"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 quoted the minister as saying.
The minister 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 minister 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.
He assured Nigerians that in case of any eventuality, the 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.
He said the ministry of health had also strengthened and intensified expanded public awareness and sensitization campaigns to improve public understanding and knowledge about the pandemic in order to further prevent or contain the influenza outbreak in the country.
The minister added that the Nigerian government in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) had swung into action to make large quantity of vaccines available throughout the country.
The minister appealed to Nigerians to embark on routine precautionary measures, such as washing hands with soap and water often and covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Source: Xinhua
Babatunde Osotimilehin, Nigeria's minister of health disclosed this in a statement issued to reporters on Wednesday, noting that the case was diagnosed in a nine-year-old American girl who resides in Lagos.
The girl had manifested symptoms suspected to be those of A/H1N1 flu such as fever, sore throat, nasal congestion and nausea, and had been taken to the American Consular clinic in Lagos, the report said.
"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 quoted the minister as saying.
The minister 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 minister 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.
He assured Nigerians that in case of any eventuality, the 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.
He said the ministry of health had also strengthened and intensified expanded public awareness and sensitization campaigns to improve public understanding and knowledge about the pandemic in order to further prevent or contain the influenza outbreak in the country.
The minister added that the Nigerian government in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) had swung into action to make large quantity of vaccines available throughout the country.
The minister appealed to Nigerians to embark on routine precautionary measures, such as washing hands with soap and water often and covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Source: Xinhua
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