Ogun state
government has said that 396 people that had primary and secondary contacts
with the Assistant Chief Nursing Officer of Federal Medical Centre (FMC)
Idi-Aba in Abeokuta, who died of Lassa fever have been traced and placed under
surveillance.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babtunde Ipaye during
an official commissioning of Shoremekun Memorial Hospital (Blu at Ifo Local
Government, said that the primary contacts were mainly members of the late
victim’s family, while the secondary contacts were the victim’s co-workers in
the hospital.
He noted that none of the contacts had shown abnormal temperature since they
began monitoring them and that the medical officers attached to each of the
contacts would continue to monitor until the specified period in line with the
World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.
The affected people could be medically adjudged to be free of the disease when
they exceed the observation period.
“All the 396 contacts have not shown any abnormal
symptoms or signs of Lassa fever.
“Their temperature is under control and we have
stationed our monitoring officer with each of the contacts to continue
monitoring throughout a specific period in line with the World Health
Organisation standard,” Ipaye said.
The Commissioner, who urged members of the public
not to panic, advised the people to cultivate high level of hygiene, keep their
food away from rats.
He enjoined the public to report any case of malaria
symptoms that may have exceeded three days to the nearest General Hospital, the
Ministry of Health, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta or call the following dedicated lines;
09099140121 and 09099140122.
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