THE
management of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex
(OAUTHC), Osun State, has confirmed that a doctor in the hospital died
of Lassa fever.
When the news of the doctor’s death –
the first record of the disease in the state – first broke on Monday,
the hospital said it could not verify the cause of his death.
Speaking through its committee chairman
on Lassa fever, Prof. Adedeji Onayade, the hospital said the doctor’s
blood sample was obtained and sent to the Federal Ministry of Health for
confirmation.
Prof. Onayade insisted that until the
result of the blood sample was confirmed, it could not be said the
hospital recorded a Lassa fever death.
But yesterday, the hospital confirmed that the doctor died of the disease.
In a telephone interview yesterday,
Prof. Onayade said the laboratory test confirmed that “the resident
doctor’s death on Monday at the hospital was caused by Lassa fever”.
His words: “The result of the first test
carried out on the sample of the deceased tested positive and we have a
report back and the result came as positive.
“We were supposed to do two tests, but
the patient was dying when we took the first sample. We can’t do the
second test now. So, we can say it is 50 per cent. But we are going
ahead to take necessary steps. We have informed those who should know.”
He allayed the fear of frightened
doctors and other workers at the hospital on the spread of the virus,
assuring them that there were medical experts and specialists capable of
controlling its spread at the hospital and outside it.
Also yesterday, the death of a patient at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) heightened fears over the infection.
He reportedly showed signs that needed to be ascertained whether they were Lassa fever-related.
Commissioner for Health Dr. Olurotimi Ojo said his blood samples had been taken to the laboratory for tests.
Ojo, in a telephone chat, said:
“Suspected cases have reduced by one. The result of the latest one is
negative. We cannot ascertain whether there is any death now.
“The blood samples have just been taken
to the laboratory for test because we have to do extensible laboratory
investigation to ascertain if it is related to Lassa fever.”
Governor Ayo Fayose urged residents to be vigilant and take precautions.
Fayose, in a statement by his Chief
Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, emphasised the need for residents to
maintain clean environment.
“The disease is in the state and samples
have been taken from a dead person to see whether the signs had to do
with the disease; another is on the sick bed.
“We are trailing those who have been in
contact with the victims and we are urging our people to take care of
their food items and they must not be exposed to rats.
“People must report immediately to
health authorities. Our enlightenment programme will be taken to the
palaces of our monarchs for our people to meet health workers. Our food
must be covered and we must maintain decent environment,” he said.
In Anambra State, residents are no
longer at ease, following the news that a woman from Ifite-Ogwari in
Ayamelum Local Government Area was quarantined.
But the Vice Chairman, Red Cross
Society, Prof. Peter Emeka Katchy, said there was no cause for alarm as
the woman lives in Asaba, Delta State.
He spoke yesterday in Awka at a
sensitisation and responsive programme organised by the Red Cross in
partnership with other agencies.
The agencies included the Army, Police,
Prisons, Immigration, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps (NCDSC), Ministry of Health and others.
There is panic as people could not ascertain how many people might have had contact with the woman.
The woman, it was gathered, was
quarantined at a facility built by former Vice President Augustus
Aighkomu at Irrua in Edo State.
Prof. Katchy said Governor Willie Obiano should procure the equipment to battle the disease.
TheAssociation of Public Health
Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN) is worried about the outbreak of the
disease and the potential of its spread.
APHPN said it was monitoring the
outbreak, encouraging health facilities and government to ensure
availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
National Chairman of APHPN Prof. Tanimola Akande said the use of such equipment by health workers would avoid more infections.
Prof. Akande, who is of the University
of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), hailed the steps taken by
governments and the World Health Organisation and other partners in the
control of the outbreak in Nigeria.
Minister of Federal Capital Territory
(FCT) Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has urged medical and health workers in
the FCT to remain on the alert.
Bello , however, said the lone case in FCT was that of a man in transit.
He directed the Disease Control and Disease Surveillance Department to be prepared for any eventuality.
Nation
0 comments:
Post a Comment