Fear has gripped medical officials at the Federal Medical Centre ( FMC ) Yola,as there was Lassa fever breakout in the state,killing one security officer in the hospital on Friday.
The head of infectious diseases and consultant at the FMC,Yola,Dr.Sati Awang,who confirmed the death of Mr.Gabriel Ambe,a security officer with Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Jalingo Taraba,said he died of Lassa fever confirmed by a test.
“The late Ambe was brought to our hospital on the recommendation of a private hospital, Peace Hospital in Yola , last Friday.On Monday, we took his blood sample and sent it to Eluwa Diseases Control Centre in Edo State on Tuesday.We received the result on Thursday,which confirmed him positive for Lassa fever and he died on Friday before we could commence full treatment.”
He said the late Ambe was isolated and his family members were also restricted from visiting him,due to the result of the blood tests, which indicated that he was affected with a serious infectious disease .
Awang,who lamented lack of properly equipped isolation unit,said out of its meagre resources, the hospital management temporary provided an isolation unit that is not up to standard.
The hospital management,on directives of World Health Organisation ( WHO),told Ambe’s family that the corpse of Ambe would not be released to them,due the hazardous nature of the disease that killed him.
Lassa fever has killed over 10 people in Taraba State,the station of late Gabriel Ambe,between 2017 and 2018 .
