Public Health: Minister sounds alarm bell on hemorrhagic fever

The Minister of Public Health signed a communiqué informing the public of an unusual viral hemorrhagic fever that has been attributed to the death of three members of a single family between 8th-22nd January 2018 in Yaounde.

The communiqué states that preliminary tests carried out came negative for Ebola, Marburg and Lassa viruses. But the Minister remained cautiously optimistic, as he calls on ” anyone with fever accompanied by a rash with or without bleeding to go immediately to the nearest health facility”.

The public health boss had learnt from past health crisis. He posits that early knowledge about impending epidemies is key to managing a crisis that can ensue.

The informed class of the society will remain restless untill a clear dignoses of the “acute onset of fever and bleeding” that claimed three lives and kept one under medical care, must have been reported.

Though “preliminary” tests carried out from the three much feared hemorrhagic fever viruses are negative, the Minister of Public Health calls on all to be on the watch-out.

The devastation caused by Ebola, Marburg and Lassa, three deadly viruses that sadly have the same symptoms like the hemorrhagic fever reported gives reason to stay watchful.

This is so because experts affirm that actual treatment for the viruses after infection is difficult. However a good and timely treatment of symptoms can increase the chances of survival.

General guideliness for the prevention of the three viral hemorrhagic fever (Lassa, Ebola, Marburg)

#Protecting food from rats
#Keeping homes safe from invasive reptiles and pests
#Avoiding infected persons
#Seeking medical treatment at first symtom.

Symptoms
#Fever
#headache
#muscular pains
#nausea
#chest pain
# bleeding amongst others.

Pamela Bidjocka