The Oyo State government and the state branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), yesterday, said two doctors died of Lassa fever within 72 hours.
While the state’s Ministry of Health confirmed the death, the NMA Chairman, Dr. Ayotunde Fasunla, in a statement in Ibadan, the state capital, said: “The NMA announces, with deepest regret and sorrow, the demise of two of her members from Lassa fever.
“The tragic deaths occurred within a space of 72 hours. It is indeed a sad week, and our eyes are still soaked in tears.”
MEANWHILE, the authorities of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, had raised the alarm over a fresh outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria.
The warning was contained in a circular issued by the management of UCH to all its members of staff. It stated: “This is to draw the attention of the entire members of staff to the current outbreak of Lassa fever in the country.
“A laboratory confirmed case is an outbreak. It is highly infectious and can transmit via contact with a confirmed case or dead body of a probable case. The incubation period is six to 21 days.
“The hospital management, therefore, uses this medium to alert all clinicians and other members of staff on the need to have a high index of suspicion.”, particularly at the entry points of the hospital – emergency wards, clinics and general outpatient.
“A detailed history of travel and contact with a sick or dead person is important while assessing all suspected cases using the standard case definition for viral.”
