The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Osun State, Dr. Temitope Oladele, has said the state has placed 55 persons under surveillance following the death of a resident doctors at Maxilofacial Surgery Department at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile Ife.
The doctor was suspected to have died of Lassa fever but confirmatory test could not be carried out because of the death of the person with the index case.
The permanent secretary spoke while briefing journalists at his office on Thursday. He stated that the state had created emergency centres to ensure that the disease was contained.
Oladele said the preliminary report of the test carried out on the blood sample of the doctor “came back as compatible with Lassa virus.”
He, however, said the confirmatory test could not be done following his death but said the state had gone ahead to prepare to contain the virus. He said no other case had been found anywhere in the state apart from this index case which according to him was imported from a neighbouring state, which he declined to mention.
He said, ” We have traced 55 persons who he had contact with before his death and we have placed them under surveillance.
“As at today none of them has shown any symptoms of Lassa fever but we are watching over them to ensure that the disease does not spread.”
“We have dedicated lines of those in the emergency centres, the numbers are 08032394921; 08062473160: 08035620234 and 08034175852.”
Post a Comment
Post a Comment