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A 22-year old man (name withheld) is reportedly put under medical observation at the Ogun State General Hospital, Ijaiye in Abeokuta following a symptomatic suspicion expressed by Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Babatunde Ipaye on Thursday in Abeokuta.
BusinessDay gathered that the patient who is under medical watch for Lassa fever case had just returned from a trip to Lagos where he was suspected to have contracted the epidemic, having exhibited symptoms of hemorrhagic fever.
It will be recalled that two persons, including a 36-year old pregnant woman, were reportedly died of Lassa fever at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, prompting Lagos State Government to place about 100 different hospital workers, who were exposed to the index case, under medical watch.
Confirming the incident to some journalists on phone in Abeokuta on Thursday, Babatunde Ipaye, the State Commissioner for Health, said that the suspected patient of Lassa fever had been placed under close medical watch to forestall the spread of the disease.
He said, “He is resident here (Abeokuta), but, he travelled to Lagos and returned with fever. He is currently at the State General hospital Ijaye where he is under medical observation.
“We have carried out the first test. The first sample was positive. It shows some reactions, we need to do another confirmatory test that has to be done.
” We are doing everything to see whether it is a confirmed case. The patient’s temperature was high, but, today, it has reduced considerably.
“By tomorrow, we should be able to confirm whether it is Lassa fever or not . Meanwhile, the patient has been isolated.”
Ipaye however, assured residents of the state not to be panic as the government has begun preventive measures against the hemorrhagic infection.
RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta
