PANIC IN LEKKI AS STRANGE DISEASE KILLS 25 CHILDREN

PANIC IN LEKKI AS STRANGE DISEASE KILLS 25
CHILDREN
It is panic and apprehension in Gbame Community in
Ikate, Lekki, Lagos state as a strange disease killing
children has thrown the community in deep mourning.
Otodo-Gbame Community in Ikate, Lekki
Residents of Otodo-Gbame Community in Ikate, Lekki,
Lagos State are on panic mode after about 25 children
died suddenly of a strange disease.
The disease which started wrecking havoc in January of
2016 is yet to be identified by doctors. It was gathered
that the disease leaves the affected children with rashes
similar to measles, and the kids usually die two or three
days after.
It was gathered that the disease has killed children from
many families in the area since January. Some families
have lost close to two or three children since the disease
surfaced.
Health workers are working round the clock to see that
something is done to curtail the spread as immunization
of children has commenced. Punch reports that two
children lost their lives in the front of the health workers.
According to a mother identified as Anago Benedict who
lost three of her children to the disease, she said apart
from the rashes on their bodies, they also vomited blood
before they died.
She said, “My children fell sick in the first week of February.
The disease is ravaging our area, and we did not have anyone
to run to.
“My children were killed by the disease. They were vomiting
blood. I did not know what name to call the disease.”
Also, another woman whose child died some days ago,
said her daughter was sick for towo days before she died.
Stella Paul said: “Her name was Esther. She was two years
old. She died on Wednesday in the presence of the health
workers. She was sick for only two days. I have three
children. Esther was the youngest. Emmanuel is the first.”
Speaking on the matter, state Ministry of Health officials
said it had sent epidemiologists to the community to verify
the outbreak.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Mrs. Adeola Salako, said the
blood samples and other body fluids of children with
suspected cases had been collected for examination.