Oyo seals hospitals as four die of suspected cases of Lassa Fever

The Oyo State Government has sealed two hospitals over suspected cases of Lassa Fever.

The state government made this disclosure on Thursday.

The rapid response team in the state said that it has confirmed four deaths, linked to a suspected Lassa fever outbreak in Saki West Local Government Area of the state.

It noted that those who lost their lives included three males and one 32-year-old female who was preparing for her marriage.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, made these declarations via a statement made available to Newspot.

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Ajetunmobi, in the statement, said that one of the apprentices at the hospital, who had returned from Iwajowa and fell ill about two weeks before the incident, was suspected to have introduced the infection.

She added that the apprentice may have likely transmitted it to her co-workers and the hospital owner.

She maintained that the hospital where four deaths were recorded has been shut down.

She also mentioned that the hospital that admitted the deceased health facility owner, without being informed of the deaths from an ‘unknown’ illness, was also shut down for decontamination.

She added that the doctor was placed under surveillance.

She said, “Three of the deceased exhibited typical symptoms of Lassa fever, including craniofacial bleeding, while the hospital owner showed fatigue and self-medicated with antimalarials and antibiotics. His condition only prompted hospital admission when his self-treatment failed.

“Extensive contact tracing was conducted, with particular focus on high-risk contacts who had been involved in the bathing and burial of the deceased.

“The hospital where all the deceased were associated was closed down for decontamination.

“The hospital that admitted the deceased health facility owner, without being informed of the deaths from an ‘unknown’ illness, was also shut down for decontamination, and the doctor was placed under surveillance.”