BY LEVI JOHNSON
Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Professor Akin Abayomi has on Wednesday placed 63 people on a watchlist over fears of being infected by Lassa fever.
Abayomi, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of Health, Tunbosun Ogunbamwo.
Recall that on Tuesday, Lagos recorded its first case of the virus, just as the patient has been isolated, but under intensive treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
Abayomi said: “We have one case of Lassa in Lagos, the patient is in isolation and receiving adequate care, 63 people that may have been in contact with the patient and who may have been infected by process of being in contact with him have been identified and are being monitored.
“If they develop any of the symptoms, we will pick them up early, test and isolate them so that we break the circle of transmission.
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”A male student from Ebonyi State came to the Nigeria Law School in the Lagos and presented himself at the clinic of the School when he fell ill.
”The victim was transferred to the Nigerian Air Force Clinic, Onikan when he failed to respond to treatment before being moved to LUTH.
“His destination was the Lagos Law School where he was quickly attended to at the clinic but was not getting well after being treated for malaria.
“He was then referred to the Nigerian Air Force Clinic, Onikan, where he was managed further and was referred to LUTH when there was no improvement.
“The test was confirmed as positive on February 17, 2020, and he was immediately transferred to the isolation containment facility in LUTH.”
