2-IN-1 STORY: Mass Bacterial Infection In Queens College: Lagos Govt Wants School Shut Down

Image source: olorisupergal's blog

The Lagos State government has advised an indefinite shutdown of Queens College over the outbreak of water-borne disease in the school.

PREMIUM TIMES report continues:

Addressing journalists in Lagos on Thursday, Jide Idris, the state’s Commissioner of Health, said the school’s resumption should be delayed until appropriate health measures are put in place for the safety of the students.

Two students have died since the outbreak of water-borne diseases in the school, with more than 50 others currently on admission in the school’s clinic after eating spaghetti and drinking water in the refectory.

Mr. Idris said water samples were collected from the school and analysed at the state’s Drug Quality Control Laboratory as well as the Microbiology Department of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

“The results from the two laboratories showed high bacteria content in the water samples from kitchen, behind dining hall and Queens Delight, the school water factory,” said Mr. Idris.

“The bacteria range from Coliforms, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella ozoana, and Aeromonas hydrophilia.”

The school, a Federal Government-owned institution, is billed to reopen from its midterm break on March 19, but Mr. Idris called for a postponement because, according to results from school’s sick bay, onset of the students’ illness began on January 16.

“The total number of students who presented at the clinic on account of abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea was 1,222 from the first date of presentation (11/01/17) to the last date of presentation (15/02/17),” Mr. Idris said.

“There were four different peak periods of infection namely 31st January 2017, 2nd, 8th, and 14th of February 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 at LUTH.

Queens College Yaba – Two Students Found Dead

February 24, 2017

OSG Blog reports that a statement issued on Thursday, February 23, by the Director Media and Public Relations to the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Boade Akinola said the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, received news of the alleged outbreak of diarrhea while on his way out of the Secretariat of the West African College of Surgeons where he had just commissioned the permanent secretariat. The statement reads:

The Minister immediately requested that his convoy diverts to the school’s location. He was in the company of the Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
On arrival the Minister was told that the school was currently on mid-term break but the deaths of two ladies were recorded at their homes. One of the deaths was attributed as due to Febrile Illness while the cause of the second was undisclosed.

The Health Minister and his company met with the representative of the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Erinosho and the Principal Dr. Mrs Lami Amodu and her staff.
According to the school’s Nurse, no student was admitted at the sick bay for any diarrhea disease prior to the commencement of the mid-term break yesterday (22nd February, 2017).

Following the interaction, Prof. Adewole directed the officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, LUTH Community Health Department as follows;

1. Ascertain the cause of death of the 2 students
2. Inspect school environment including the Kitchen
3. Examine the source of water supply and test suitability for human consumption
4. Visit the bereaved families

The Minister also called the Honorable Minister of Education and briefed him of his directives. A report of the investigation will also be forwarded to the Honorable Minister of Education.

Parents of Queens College students and concerned Nigerians should remain calm as the Health Authorities are on top of the situation.