· I’m hale, hearty, Delta hospital MD says
Following resurgence of lassa fever in some parts of the country, Plateau State government has recorded two cases of the disease while eight others are on the watch list at various health centres in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kunden Deyin, who said this at a ministerial press briefing in Jos, the state capital, on Tuesday, said that 10 people were suspected to have been tested positive, but eight were later satisfied to be negative and discharged while the two tested positive, were admitted at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
Dr Deyin said the ministry in conjunction with other health-related agencies have placed the family of those who tested positive on surveillance to curtail the spread of the menace.
He said the state government had already taken up the challenge by deploying health workers across the state to sensitise citizens on the symptoms and preventive measures of lassa fever.
According to him, lassa fever is transmitted through urine and excreta of a rat and served as a reservoir for the lassa virus, adding that rodent is usually attracted to dirty environment
He implored the people not to panic over the two recorded cases, adding that the disease was not like Ebola Virus but charged them to be proactive and report suspected cases to avoid its spread.
Meanwhile, the medical director of a private hospital in Asaba, the Delta State capital, where the recent lassa fever victim was first admitted, had said that contrary to speculation of his death, he is hale and hearty along with the workers,adding that the health facilitiy has not been deserted.
According to Dr Ben Ifeanyi Ajufoh of EL Comfort Hospital, Bonsac, Asaba, the victim, one Dr Okeke, a medical practitioner, also in Asaba, was rushed to the hospital and a few hours later, referred to the Nnamdi Azikiwwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, where he manifested symptoms of the disease and later died.
Dr Ajufoh told newsmen in Asaba that the state Ministry of Health fumigated all the facilities that hosted Dr Okeke, at the short period he stayed at the hospital even though, he did not bleed before he was referred.