Seven doctors and five nurses have been quarantined at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Adamawa state, following their contact with a patient diagnosed with Lassa fever.
A source at the hospital told The Newshawk on Monday that a pregnant woman who lost her fetus was the primary contact.
She said the woman was admitted to the labour ward, where the fetus was evacuated on Friday.
“After the evacuation, it was observed that the woman had a fever and was bleeding. So the medical team thought as much that it was a case of Lassa fever, then she was transferred to the isolation room,” she said.
“When she was sent to the isolation room, the blood samples were taken away for the test, because normally they don’t do the test here (FMC Yola). They had to send the samples and we waited for the test results which came out yesterday and showed that she was positive. But the patient died about two days to the release of the result.”
He said there have been no symptoms from other health workers.
“The only problem now is that many people are in contact with the patient. Seven doctors, five nurses and two sub staff had direct contact with her,” he said.
“But these just contact, they don’t have any case or anybody that is manifesting with any symptom. Those that had direct contact with the patient are being quarantined for the incubation period of the disease.”
Those who are in isolation are expected to be observed for at least 21 days.
This development is coming a day after the Jigawa state government confirmed a case of Lassa feverinvolving a medical doctor.
Health Ministry Confirms
For now, one woman was confirmed died just as the state Director, Public Health, Dr Bwalki Dilli, told journalists that results of the four cases were still being awaited from the referral laboratory centre in Abuja.
He said, “The patients were admitted at the treatment centre located at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, and their samples have been taken and referred to the laboratory in Abuja for analysis.
“When the final result is out, we would inform the general public about the situation.”
