New Case of Lassa Fever Reported in Ekiti

A case of the dreaded Lassa Fever has been reported in Ido Ekiti, headquarters of Ido/Osi local government area of Ekiti State.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olurotimi Ojo, who confirmed the case officially on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting on Lassa fever in Ado Ekiti, said the patient has been isolated as doctors are battling to ensure her survival.

The victim is a Nursing student, is currently on admission at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, FETHI, where she reportedly tested positive to the virus on Saturday.

According to the Commissioner, the patient was treated for malaria and typhoid fever with high profile antibiotics, but did not respond to treatment.

Dr. Olurotimi Ojo noted that he had confirmed the case from FETHI Chief Medical Director, Dr. Lawrence Ayodele, confirmed that the victims is a Nursing student.

“Over the weekend, the state had confirmed a case of Lassa fever that is being managed at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti. The patient is stable and had commenced treatment.

“Immediately the patient was diagnosed and confirmed, the management began the process of contact tracing.

“Though the doctors are handling the situation and monitoring the situation very closely, nobody has been quarantined after the contact tracing.

“Once you have an index case, there is tendency of having a primary case and possible spread and this could be dangerous,” Ojo said.

The new case of lassa fever outbreak comes barely 48 hours after the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Kola Oluwawole, described Ekiti as example to other states in the management of Lassa fever.