The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku/Ozalla, near Enugu, Dr Obinna Onodugo, said of the death of the expectant mother: “It is confirmed that a case of Lassa fever came to UNTH today (30/1/2020) and died at our Emergency and Accident Unit. We are currently tracing contacts.
The Rivers State Public Health Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), she said, “had earlier commenced pro-active effort for containment of the outbreak. So far, all hands are on the deck for facility decontamination, line-listing, presumptive prophylaxis and surveillance to ensure public health safety and security.
“In addition, the state has procured large quantities of anti-viral agents; isolation centres have been designated and are being set-up across the teaching hospitals in case of any eventuality. Rivers State Government is doing everything to contain the Lassa virus.”
Pregnant woman, one other succumb to Lassa in Enugu
Two persons, among them a pregnant woman, have been confirmed dead in Enugu State as a result of the Lassa fever outbreak
Six suspected cases were reported, but three of these were confirmed.
The third victim, a 24-year-old female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is responding to treatment.
Two expectant mothers – one each in Rivers, Enugu and Adamawa states – are among the latest victims of the current Lassa fever outbreak in parts of the country.
Six other persons have also lost their lives to the killer virus in other states.
Edo State alone has placed 1200 patients under observation while 70 are under surveillance in Rivers State.
Apart from the expectant mother, Lassa fever has claimed two other lives in Rivers State.
They included a young father of two and one other, according to the Director Planning, Research and Statistics in the state Ministry of Health, Chinwendu Atata.
He told reporters in Port Harcourt that results of samples from the deceased persons showed that they died of the virus.
She appealed for calm and assured that the state has procured facilities and sufficient drugs to tackle the challenge.
