Lagos Orders For Swine Flu Vaccines
January 20, 2010 16:39 (32 minutes ago), 5 views

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Following the outbreak of HINI Influenza, known as Swine Flu, the Lagos State Government has ordered the shipment of bulk of vaccines from abroad to curtail the disease.

The government said the vaccines were expected in the state in the next four weeks, saying that as at present, no vaccine was available in the country to curtail the spread of the disease.

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris called on members of the public to take precautionary measures to avert contacting the deadly disease, which had so far claimed one life in Lagos State.

He disclosed that the vaccines had been ordered, adding that demand for the vaccine worldwide had outstripped the supply, which made it difficult to procure, coupled with the high cost of the vaccine.

The commissioner stated that he could not tell when the vaccines would arrived and that the state government would give it out free to victims of the virus.

He added that only few laboratories currently conduct test on the HINI virus, adding that these laboratories belonged to the Federal Government.

Eight other Lagosians, out of 52 people tested for the virus, were declared positive and are under treatment with Tami flu, a drug meant to reduce the pang of the disease.

Idris, however, said there was no cause for alarm, as the state government was in total control of the situation and warned Lagosians to stay away from people suspected to have flu-like symptom and have the history of having travelled to areas with high risk of swine flu.

Lagos state might as well take over from Abuja and start running the country.