High Lassa Fever activity in Northern part of Edo State, Nigeria: reanalysis of con\ufb01rmatory test results

The purpose was to establish simple statistics of the e\ufb00ects of lassa fever in northern part of Edo State, Nigeria. Lassa fever activity in the northern part of Edo state, Nigeria, was con\ufb01rmed in 2004 by laboratory analysis of samples sent to Bernhard\u2013Nocht Institute (BNI) for Tropical Medicine Hamburg, Germany. The published report of that study is re-analysed to determine in statistical terms, what the values presented in percentages translate to in number of persons in the hospital and the area. In the year 2004, 12,000 persons presented with febrile illness at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua; 832 (6.5%) had lassa fever con\ufb01rmed by reversetranscriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). 4,096 (32.26%) of those with febrile illness had acute infection as they tested positive for IgM antibody. 333 (33.33%) of about 1000 sta\ufb00 of the hospital had sub-clinical infection as they tested positive for IgG and negative for IgM antibody. At least 208 of the 832 patients (25%) of the hospital with con\ufb01rmed lassa fever must have died in the year 2004. 967 (5.9%) of relatives or members of the public who had contact with infected persons had con\ufb01rmed lassa fever. 555 (66.67%) of those with con\ufb01rmed lassa fever are close relatives. The epidemics occur in clusters of households, houses, streets or villages. It is concluded that high lassa fever activity in the area has wider e\ufb00ects than what is observed in hospital admitted patients. Further seroepidemiological survey involving large population sample in the area should be carried out to establish more accurate seroepidemiological data on lassa fever. This study is expected to impact positively on the generation of political priority for the control of lassa fever in Nigeri

Radiation Protection Practices of Staff during Extra-Corporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy at Okada, Nigeria

Background: The study was designed to find out the radiation protection practices of radiologists and other staff involved in the first extra-corporeal shock wave lithotripsy in Nigeria, performed at Igbinedion Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Okada. Methodology: Some members of staff who were present when the extra-corporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was used in the hospital at Okada were interviewed between November 2002 and August 2003. Radiology records of the hospital were studied. Literature search involved available publication on the procedure in local and international journals with interest in precautions to reducing radiation exposure. Results: Only lead apron and lead gloves were used by the radiologists for radiation protection and shielding during fluoroscopy procedures. The fluoroscopy was the screen type with TV monitor. Multiple sessions were used in several patients with multiple pre- and post- treatment radiographic studies including contrast studies with average of two sessions per patient. All the patients were adults aged between 26 and 65 years with mean age of 42.5 years. 627-6000 shock waves were delivered over 45-135 minutes at intensity of 143-19KV depending on patients build and the size of the stones. The sizes of the patients varied from very obese with large bulk to slim built. Radiation monitoring of the staff and patients was not done. Staff believed that radiation effect from the lithotripsy procedure was low therefore adequate radiation monitoring and radiation reducing alteration in the procedure was rarely adopted. Conclusion: Extended fluoroscopy time, multiple fluoroscopy examinations, multiple treatment sessions and multiple x-ray examinations which increased both the patients\' and staff\'s radiation exposures were noted. Proper radiation protection and monitoring of patients and staff are necessary to avoid the risks from low-level exposure to radiation such as in ESWL. Keywords: Extra-corporeal, Shockwave, Lithotripsy, Radiation, Protection, Practices, Doctors Nigerian Journal of Medicine Vol. 17 (3) 2008: pp. 337-33

High Lassa Fever activity in Northern part of Edo State, Nigeria: reanalysis of confirmatory test results

The purpose was to establish simple statistics of the effects of lassa fever in northern part of Edo State, Nigeria. Lassa fever activity in the northern part of Edo state, Nigeria, was confirmed in 2004 by laboratory analysis of samples sent to Bernhard–Nocht Institute (BNI) for Tropical Medicine Hamburg, Germany. The published report of that study is re-analysed to determine in statistical terms, what the values presented in percentages translate to in number of persons in the hospital and the area. In the year 2004, 12,000 persons presented with febrile illness at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua; 832 (6.5%) had lassa fever confirmed by reversetranscriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). 4,096 (32.26%) of those with febrile illness had acute infection as they tested positive for IgM antibody. 333 (33.33%) of about 1000 staff of the hospital had sub-clinical infection as they tested positive for IgG and negative for IgM antibody. At least 208 of the 832 patients (25%) of the hospital with confirmed lassa fever must have died in the year 2004. 967 (5.9%) of relatives or members of the public who had contact with infected persons had confirmed lassa fever. 555 (66.67%) of those with confirmed lassa fever are close relatives. The epidemics occur in clusters of households, houses, streets or villages. It is concluded that high lassa fever activity in the area has wider effects than what is observed in hospital admitted patients. Further seroepidemiological survey involving large population sample in the area should be carried out to establish more accurate seroepidemiological data on lassa fever. This study is expected to impact positively on the generation of political priority for the control of lassa fever in Nigeri