Strange disease kills 25 children in Lekki

Speaking at a news conference, the commissioner said there were 34 cases of sick children with FRI, noting that the graves of 20 children have been identified by their parents.

He said, “The graves of 20 children who died from the FRI since the day of onset of signs and symptoms in the first case on January 6 were identified by their parents.

“Also, 34 cases have been line listed so far with 17 males and 17 females; 17 dead patients have been identified with nine males and eight females, all are within the age range of eight and 72 months,” Idris said.

“The source of the infection is still under investigation and until we know the required source, we cannot say for sure, what is causing it.”

The strange ailment was said to have started in January 2016. After contracting the ailment, the victims developed rashes similar to measles and they died measles, and they died two to three days later.

The commissioner said the team of epidemiologists from the state ministry of health are yet to come up with the report on the source of the strange infection, adding that the signs and symptoms of the illness suggests Febrile Rash.

“Blood samples and throat swabs from the patients and water samples from the community have been taken to the Virology Reference Laboratory.

“This is at Lagos University Teaching Hospital and Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja respectively”he said.

Idris urged the residents of the community ensure they carry out basic environmental sanitation, including proper disposal of refuse, and avoiding open defecation, as well as regular hand washing with soap and water, maintaining personal hygiene, adequate nutrition, and antenatal care for pregnant women.