Some doctors, nurses and auxiliary staff of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital have been quarantined after a patient was confirmed to have died of Lassa Fever.
Other hospital staff who had contact with the patient were also quarantined for close monitoring of symptoms of the hemorrhagic disease.
The patient reportedly died three hours after a surgical operation was performed before he was diagnosed of having Lassa Fever.
It was gathered that the patient was rushed to the hospital after complaining of appendicitis.
He was said to be on a visit to Nigeria to attend his mother’s funeral at Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area.
Confirming the incident, Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. Michael Ibadin, said there was no cause for alarm as according to him, the hospital management maintained professionalism in handling the case.
Prof. Ibadin said the patient died three hours after surgical operation and stressed that all personnel involved in providing care for the victim have all been taken care of according to standard as determined by international best practices.
According to him, “The victim an adult male patient who was visiting from his base abroad had a typical presentation of abdominal pain. History of fever was not volunteered initially. The suspicion of Lassa fever was entertained when following surgery he had uncontrolled bleeding. He has since passed on.”
State Commissioner for Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Aihianuwa Eregie, said she was not aware of the incident.
“No, no, no, I don’t have this information but I will confirm to know if the death was caused by Lassa Fever,” she said.
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