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From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
THE number of persons under surveillance in Delta State for Lassa fever is now 55, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nichols Azinge disclosed in Asaba, yesterday.
Following the death of a medical doctor, who was diagnosed of the disease, 32 persons believed to have contacts with the deceased were quarantined. The number rose to 40 as the state government intensified efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.
The late doctor, who ran a private health facility, Rainbow Hospital in Umuaji area of Asaba, had gone for treatment at another private facility, El-Comfort Hospital at the Bonsaac area.
From El-Comfort Hospital, he was referred to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State where he died.
His blood sample, which was taken to Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo State tested positive to the disease caused by the eight-breasted rat specie. He has since been buried according the specification of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Speaking yesterday when he received in audience the Federal Government rapid response team on a technical assistance mission, Azinge explained that the 55 persons under watch might have had contact with the dead doctor.
Azinge advised residents not to panic as the state government had put necessary measures in place to curtail the spread of the disease and in control of the situation.
The five-man technical assistant team made up of experts from the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELPT) was deplored by the Federal Government to help in tackling the disease.
The team has been in the state for some days working with the state’s epidemiologist and the disease surveillance and notification officer to assess what has been done so far and proffer technical assistance in closing whatever perceived gaps.
Azinge said the four persons earlier found negative had not shown any symptoms of the disease, adding that both the El-Comfort Hospital and Rainbow Hospital remained shut.
He reiterated that previous committees set up to tackle the disease had been reactivated while awareness campaigns through the various mass media to enlighten the public on how the disease was transmitted and could be prevented to forestall its spread had been stepped up.
