Suspected Lassa fever patient under watch in Ogun

From Peter Moses Abeokuta Ogun state government yesterday confi rmed suspected case of Lassa fever at the state General Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, the state capital. Th e 22-year-old male patient was said to be under medical observation at the state-owned facility. Th e state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, who would not give name, said the patient returned from Lagos with the symptoms. Recall that two persons, including a 36-year-old pregnant woman, have died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, after being treated for Lassa fever. Besides, no fewer than 100 diff erent hospital workers, who were exposed to the index case, including a resident doctor from the Department of Anatomic and Molecular Pathology, are currently under close observation in the same hospital. Ipaye who spoke with reporters in Abeokuta explained that the fi rst test had been carried out which was positive, but “another confi rmatory test” has to be done. In preparedness for confi rmatory test, Ipaye said the patient had been isolated. Th e Commissioner, however, said Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led government has begun preventive measures against the infection. His words: “He is resident here (Abeokuta), but he travelled to Lagos and returned with fever. “He is currently at the state General Hospital where he is under medical observation. “We have carried out the fi rst test. Th e fi rst sample was positive. It shows some reactions, we need to do another confi rmatory test. “We are doing everything to see whether it is a confi rmed case. Th e patient’s temperature was high, but today (Th ursday), it has reduced considerably. “By tomorrow, we should be able to confi rm whether it is Lassa fever or not, meanwhile, the patient has been isolated.”

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