• OAUTHC says doctor’s death caused by disease
• One feared dead, two tested positive in Ekiti
• Kogi sets up isolation centre
HEALTH Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has lamented what he described as the culture of silence permeating the Nigerian society in reaction to the outbreak of Lassa fever pandemics in the country.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the signing of the updated memorandum of understanding at the Presidential Villa, the minister cited the case of Ebonyi State, which had so far recorded about five cases of Lassa fever but never cared to report to his ministry for necessary action.

The minister denied that cases of Lassa fever were hidden, but admitted they were not brought to the public knowledge until it became late.

His words: “Not that they were hidden but they were never brought to public knowledge. There is also what we can consider to be culture of silence in some of our states. For example, we recognised Ebonyi State as one of the endemic states. And since the outbreak, Ebonyi has not recorded a single case or reported a single case. We despatched our surveillance team to Ebonyi and we discovered five cases.

“We cannot win the battle against Lassa fever the same way we won the one against Ebola. Ebola happened to be a single importation to Nigeria. Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria. In 2012, we had upsurge in 26 states. So, it is there but I can assure you that with what we put in place this year, we will sign it off.”

He said the Federal Government was determined to get to the root of the issue, saying: “What we want to do is put across some innovative funding mechanisms, ability to manage and put to use 10,000 primary healthcare centres across the country over the next two years. In the 100 days, we will flag off 110 of these centres.

“We will start with the one in Fuka where we had this outbreak. We will do one per senatorial district, 109 to make 110 in 100 days. This year alone, we will do 5,000.”

Meanwhile, the management of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) yesterday said that laboratory test conducted on a resident doctor who died in the hospital on Monday confirmed that the doctor’s death was caused by the deadly Lassa fever.

The Chairman of a committee set up by the OAUTHC on Lassa fever, Prof. Adedeji Onayade, confirmed the development yesterday, saying the result of the first test carried out on the sample of the deceased tested positive.

He said: “We have a report back and the result came as positive. We were supposed to do two tests but the patient was dying when we took the first sample.

“We can’t do the second test now. So, we can say it is 50 per cent but we are going ahead to take necessary steps. We have informed all those who should know.”

Prof. Onayade however said there was no cause for panic by the hospital workers, patients and the public as a result of the development.

However, fears gripped many residents of Ekiti State yesterday as the state government announced that one person might have been dead and two others diagnosed of the dreaded Lassa fever.

The state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, who made the disclosure in a statewide broadcast, however, warned people of the state not to expose their food items for rats and other rodents to have contact with. He also directed health workers to embark on massive sensitisation of the people.

Besides, the state Commissioner for Heath, Dr. Olurotimi Ojo, said the blood sample of the person suspected to have died of the disease at Ekiti State Teaching Hospital (EKSTH) had been sent to the laboratory for confirmation.

In another development, the Kogi State government, in partnership with the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja, has taken a proactive measure against the dreaded Lassa fever by setting up a Barrier Nursing Unit, known as Isolation Centre, at the hospital.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Idris Omede, who made the disclosure in an interview with The Guardian, said though the state is not on danger list, they have to make adequate preparations against any possible outbreak.

He said: “There is a good relationship between us and the Federal Medical Centre where a Barrier Nursing Unit or Isolation Unit has been created for care of cases if they occur. The media has been very proactive acting as a real bridge in creating more awareness.”