Lassa Fever Patient: Not Dead in Ogun, Transferred to Irrua Hospital, Says Commissioner
Ogun State Government Sunday confirmed a case of Lassa fever in the state, explaining that the 29-year-old patient is not dead but has been transferred to Federal Specialist Hospital in Irrua, Edo State.
The government, in a statement by Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, explained that the Governor Dapo Abiodun administration was doing everything to contain the outbreak.
She said the suspected Lassa fever case was confirmed by Ogun State Virology Laboratory on January 24, noting that the patient is a pregnant 29-year- old who took ill and was referred to Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta.
However, contrary to some reports circulating in the media, Coker said the patient was not dead.
“The patient is not dead as she was transferred to the Federal Specialist Hospital in Irrua, Edo State, which has facilities to provide for the Lassa fever patients with the full benefit of multidisciplinary care required.
“In her case, the specialist hospital has facilities to take care of the patient and her pregnancy,” the commissioner said.
She added that the Rapid Response Team in Ogun State has commenced line listing of all those who have come in contact with the patient for surveillance purposes, including her relatives and hospital staff that managed her case.
“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,” she said.
Coker assured members of the public that the state government acted proactively by putting all counter measures in place to contain the situation.
Urging residents to maintain proper hygiene, the commissioner stated that members of the public should avoid contact with rodents, pointing out that they should cover their food properly and ensure that their food is warmed before eating it.