A female student nurse at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FETHI) Ido Ekiti, Ekiti State over the weekend tested positive for the dreaded Lassa Fever infection.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Olurotimi Ojo, who disclosed the first case of the infection in the state on Monday at the Stakeholders meeting on Lassa Fever, said the patient is currently in isolation at the hospital, while efforts were being made by experts to ensure she survives.
Dr Ojo, said the patient was initially treated for Malaria and Typhoid fever with high profile antibiotics, but when she did not respond to treatment, the suspicion of infection with the Lassa virus arose, which she tested positive to.
He added that the situation is being curtailed with efforts from the State government in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation (WHO), through the office of the national centre for disease control.
“The governor is also embarking on public and town-to-town sensitization about Lassa fever through the airing of jingles on the state broadcasting corporation and distribution of IEC (information, education and communication) materials to the people.”
He advised the people of the state to take precautionary measures and refrain from taking risks that can lead to the contact or spread of the disease.
This calls for extra caution by health care professionals and the general public too.
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