55 under surveillance in Osun state on HWN LASSA FEVER UPDATE

Following the death of a resident doctor at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital’s Maxilofacial Surgery Department, Osun state has placed a total of 55 persons under surveillance for symptoms of Lassa fever.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Osun state Dr. Temitope Oladele revealed this information in a briefing for journalists at his Office on Thursday. Stressing that the state has put in place emergency centres to avoid the spread of the disease and ensure its containment.

He further added that although the report of the test carried out on the blood sample of the doctor came back as compatible with Lassa virus, confirmatory tests could not be carried out to ascertain the actual cause of the resident doctor’s death which is believed to be as a result of the Lassa fever due to his death.

Speaking on the health condition of the 55 persons under surveillance, Dr. Temitope Olabode said “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.” and put the mind of the residents of the state at ease as no other person has shown symptoms of the Lassa fever virus which he believed was imported from a neighbouring state.