Doctors infected with Lassa fever discharged

LUTH entrance gate.

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Three doctors infected with Lassa fever at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, have been discharged, according to the hospital spokesman, Kelechi Otuneme.

Otuneme in a conversation with Daily Trust correspondents on Wednesday said the doctors were discharged on Tuesday evening, after they have been confirmed fit and well enough.

“One was first discharged on Monday while the remaining two were released on Tuesday night to join their families. They are well and fit”, he said.

It will be recalled that three doctors were infected with Lassa fever at the LUTH and investigations revealed that three infected are resident’s doctors from the same department (Department of Anatomy and Molecular Pathology).

Daily Trust learnt that the resident doctors were infected while conducting an autopsy on the index case, a 32 year-old pregnant lady who died of bleeding complications after a still birth.

Following the results of the post-mortem examination which was conducted on her, it was confirmed that the lady was positive of Lassa fever.

Speaking on the incidents, the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof Chris Bode urged Nigerians not to panic.

“Let me reiterate here that the current outbreak is being effectively faced in the field and those currently exposed to the cases are being effectively treated”.

Prof. Bode added that trainings of doctors have commenced in the hospital and additional spaces have been readied for cases within or outside the hospital.

“We are working in close partnership with the Lagos State government’s ministry of health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Abuja and the federal ministry of health as well,” he added.