The Ogun State Government has confirmed a case of Lassa fever in the state, with a firm assurance that all is being done to contain it.
In a press release by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, the suspected Lassa fever case was confirmed by the Ogun State Virology Laboratory on January 24, 2020.
Dr. Coker said that the patient is a pregnant 29-year-old who took ill and was referred to the Federal Medical Center, FMC, Abeokuta.
But, contrary to some reports circulating in the media; 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.
While assuring members of the public that the state government acted proactively by putting all counter measures in place to contain the situation, Dr Coker urged residents to maintain proper hygiene, adding 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.
She said, “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.”
