Rabies scare causes panic in Lagos after claiming 2 lives

Two victims, a 49-year old-man, from Igbogbo, Ikorodu area who died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) penultimate Wednesday after admission and the second victim, a 33-year-old man who lived in Ajara, Badagry, have both lost their lives following dog bites.

The death of the pair was confirmed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who informed that the two victims died at the Lagos State University, much so as residents of Igbogbo and Ajara, in Lagos State, now live in fear of rabies (a fatal disease caused by dog bite).

In a related development, Dr. Idris informed that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has directed that Queens College, Yaba, be under lock and key for the time being

According to Dr, Idris, the Lagos governor gave the directive after two girls died after alleged cholera out- break, ordering the school not to resume until appropriate measures are put in place for students’ safety.

“Available health records from the sick bay indicated that the date of onset of ill- ness was January 16, 2017. The total number of students presented at the clinic on ac- count of abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea was 1,222 from the date of presentation to the last date.

“There were four different peak periods of infection, the highest peak was January 31, 2017. 16 ill cases were admitted in various hospitals. nine have been discharged, two died while one is still on admission at the Intensive Care Unit of LASUTH and three in LUTH.”

Dr. Idris disclosed that water samples from six sources in the school premises were collected and analysed at the Drug Quality Control Labo- ratory of Lagos State Min- istry of Health at LASUTH, Ikeja.