Lassa Fever Outbreak: Ogun Commissioner Says Patient Is Alive

By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA

Rumours spreading across about the death of a lassa fever patient in Ogun State have been laid to rest by the government confirming the she is still alive.

The government hereby confirmed the case of lassa fever in the state, with a firm assurance that all is being done to stop its spread in the state.

In a press release by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, it was stated that the suspected lassa fever case was confirmed by the Ogun State Virology Laboratory on January 24th, 2020.

According to Dr. Coker, the patient is a pregnant 29 year old who took ill and was referred to the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Abeokuta.

However, contrary to some reports circulating in the medi,; the commissioner noted that: “The patient is not dead as she was transferred  to the Federal Specialist Hospital in Irua, Edo State, whose facilities provide the patient with the full benefit of multidisciplinary care required for her due to her pregnancy.”

She further stated that the Rapid Response Team has commenced line listing of all who have come into contact with the patient for surveillance purposes, including her relatives and hospital staff that managed the case.

Dr. Coker assured members of the public that the state government acted pro-actively by putting all counter measures in place to address the situation.

She urged residents to maintain proper hygiene, adding that members of the public should avoid contact with rodents, while pointing out that they should cover their food properly and ensure that their food is warmed before eating it.

“We have given thermometers to those who have been in contact with the patient to monitor their temperatures and also provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at the designated treatment center at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.

“Our health educators and officers have been deployed into action and are educating the public on ways to avoid being infected with lassa fever.

“Other emerging or suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fevers are to be isolated in the designated quarantine areas for barriers nursing, until definitive diagnosis is concluded.

“The State Epidemiologist and DNSO should immediately be notified on telephone numbers  09099140121 and 09099140122  in case of any suspected case,” Dr. Coker added.