By Monday Osayande
Panic on Wednesday gripped residents of Asaba when a single mother (name withheld) reportedly died as a result of the recent outbreak of Lassa fever at the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba, Delta State.
Two other patients including a Corps member, who were recently rushed to the FMC, and later to Specialist Hospital, Irrua, Edo State over the outbreak of Lassa Fever in the State are in danger list receiving treatments.
A source who spoke with our correspondent said that the Corps member who was serving in Oshimili South Local Government Area of the state has been quarantined since on Tuesday
The infected corps member simply identified as Yinka was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) on Friday 18, 2020 and was later referred to Specialist Hospital in Irrua after the confirmation of the virus.
It was also gathered that another middle aged man whose identify is unknown was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba following the confirmation that he had the symptoms of the epidemic.
The State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Delta State, Mrs Olutayo Samuel, confirmed the incident.
When contacted the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of FMC, Dr. Victor Osiatuma didn’t pick calls put across to him.
However, the State Government has allayed the fears of residents in the State over the incidence of disease, assuring its ability to control the spread in the State.
The Delta State Commissioner for Health Dr. Mordi Ononye gave the assurance Wednesday when he confirmed the outbreak of the disease in Asaba.
He said of the two cases recorded at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, one of them a single mother was brought to FMC, Asaba and died the following day while the other patient, a Corps member serving in the State, was also taken to FMC, Asaba but was referred to Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State the following day where he is being managed and is responding to treatment.
According to him, ‘a robust mechanism is already in place to sensitize the general public on how the diseases can be contained to guide against spreading it further.”
He said both the private and public health facilities in the State are being carried along in its efforts to check the disease from going out of control.
To tackle the disease, he said, the State Government has built and furnish a 10 bed Isolation Unit at the FMC and more collaboration is on with the Federal Government and its agencies to tackle the situation.
On the entry points into the State, Dr. Ononye said that health authorities located at the various entry points into the State and country at large such as the land, sea and air ports/borders are on red alert and working in tandem with the Delta State Disease Notification and Surveillances Officers (DNSOs) to identify and track the disease.
Speaking further, Commissioner Ononye stated that surveillance and contact tracing is ongoing particularly on those who came in contact with the two report cases of the disease as the officers of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba and DNSOs are synergizing and sharing reports.
He said, “though the disease is contagious but if residents keep a high personal hygiene, keep their environments clean and cut grasses close to homes, address places where rodents hide and breed and, stop exposing food and drinks to rats, among others the disease would not be able to spread.”
