Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
January 15, 2016 – One person is now down with Lassa Fever in Lagos. This is taking place just as over 40 people have died of the ailment in Nigeria.
But the lone patient in Lagos has now been quarantined at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (LUTH), Idi-Araba.
The patient, who has tested positive to Lassa, is now at the Accident and Emergency unit of LUTH where he is being isolated. The name of the Lassa patient is Ahmed Fasasi, a 25-year old male and was brought to LUTH this evening, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris confirmed on phone.
He said the patient was brought in from Ahmadu Bello Univeristy, ABU, Zaria, Kaduna State, adding that government would issue a statement tomorrow and start tracing those the patient has had contact with.
He said the patient has already been isolated and that containment is been done with ribavirin and that the theatre at the Accident and Emergency Unit is to be used as isolation ward.
He said there is no need to panic as movement has been limited to the Accident and Emergency Unit and that staff of the unit have been adequately trained for such eventuality.
