The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has confirmed the death of one person in the two cases of Lassa fever recorded in the territory. Dr Humphrey Okoroukwu, the Director of Public Health in Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCT, confirmed this in Abuja.
Four persons have lost their lives to Cerebrospinal Meningitis in Niger State, amidst an outbreak of the disease in the state. At the moment up to 31 cases have been reported with nine laboratory tests confirmed.
The Chairman of the Codeine Control and Other Related Matters Working Group (CCRWG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Odeku, has raised the alarm over the widespread abuse of codeine and other controlled medicines in many parts of the country.
According to report Odeku, noted that the abuse of the substance cut across all ages and social strata.
“The problem is going deeper into the society by the day. There are reports of drug abuse among secondary school pupils and students in tertiary institutions. The use of codeine containing cough syrup has increased even among married women," She lamented.
Odeku added that the development is as a result of users including married women seeking respite in the drug in order to deal with their daily life struggles.
A new research into off-label uses for a 50 years old drug generally prescribed for managing high blood pressure has discovered that it could check the inception of type 1 diabetes.
The study by researchers at the University of Colorado and the University of Florida, also suggests a new approach for investigating drugs that could assist in the treatment of a variety of autoimmune diseases.
Up to 60 percent of persons at risk of developing type 1 diabetes possess a molecule dubbed DQ8.
It appears the Lassa Fever epidemic is continuing unabated as three persons have lost their lives to the deadly disease in Delta State, while 24 others are under surveillance.
The Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mordi Ononye, made the disclosure in a statement, stating that two out of the three cases of deaths recorded were from Anambra State.
Dr Ononye mentioned that certain cases had to be referred to the Institute of Lassa Fever, Irrua, Edo State, from Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Asaba, adding that the first case has been treated and discharged.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said each year, 7 out of 10 deaths recorded globally are caused by Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), mostly from tobacco and alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets and lack of physical.
The global organisation made the disclosure during the launching of the Independent Global High-level Commission on NCDs, noting that bold and innovative solutions were now on the table to accelerate the prevention and control of deadly NCDs.
The UN health agency said such NCDs included hearing loss and lung disease, cancers and diabetes.
