From Felix Uka, Abakaliki
Two medical doctors and a nurse at the Federal Teaching Hospital
Abakaliki (FETHA), Ebonyi state have died of suspected Lassa fever
outbreak.
Following the development, patients, health workers at the hospital
yesterday were in confusion as to whether to remain or leave the
premises when our correspondent visited.
The dead Doctors, Felix Ali hailed from Afikpo in Ebonyi state and
Abel Udoh, Awka Ibom. The name of the nurse could not be immediately
ascertained.
The Ebonyi state government however confirmed two deaths; a doctor and a nurse.
Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, the state Commissioner
for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezuruike said the government has taken
measures to curtail further outbreak of the virus.
a�?We have two confirmed deaths. Two that tested positive have been
confirmed dead and it is a nurse and a doctor. The second doctor is a
known diabetic; he was being managed for blood sugar derangement. It
was just yesterday that we collected the sample and he never died but
he was critical. He convulsed and died when the sample was collected,
so we are going to confirm that.
a�?So, we have lost three patients but one of them has cold morbidity
and known hypertensive and sample collected is not yet out. The deaths
are very unfortunate and we sympathize with the families of the
deceased. Some of the circumstances surrounding the deaths were late
presentation because the three cases are coming from three axis. One of
the cases, a doctor took ill two weeks ago and he was taking self
medication; treating himself of malaria and typhoid
a�?What happened in the hospital is that immediately it happened, we
decided to fumigate the hospital. We were trying to move patients from
different wards and that was what made it to be as if there was
panica�?, he said.
2 doctors, nurse die of suspected lassa fever in Ebonyi
