Lagos places 63 under surveillance over Lassa fever

The Lagos state government has placed 63 persons under close monitoring over concerns that they may have come in contact with a Lassa fever patient.

Akin Abayomi, the state commissioner for health, disclosed this on Wednesday.

Lagos recorded its first case of the disease in the current outbreak on Tuesday. The patient is currently isolated and receiving treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

“We have identified 63 of the persons he may have been in contact with since his arrival from Ebonyi State into Lagos, Lagos Law School, the Nigeria Air Force Clinic and LUTH,” Abayomi was quoted to have said.

“They are being monitored. If they develop any symptom of Lassa fever, we will pick them up early and isolate them so that we can break the cycle of transmission.”

Ayobami further disclosed that the index patient, a male, who arrived Lagos from Ebonyi state, was feeling unwell and was admitted at the Lagos Law School clinic.

According to him, the victim was transferred to the  Nigeria Air Force Clinic, Onikan, when he failed to respond to treatment before being moved to LUTH.

“His destination was the Lagos Law School where he was quickly attended to at the clinic but was not getting well after being treated for malaria,” he said.

“He was then referred to the Nigeria Air Force Clinic, Onikan, where he was managed further and was referred to LUTH when there was no improvement.

“The test was confirmed as positive on February 17, 2020, and he was immediately transferred to the isolation containment facility in LUTH.”