By; Niyi Ogungbola, Abeokuta.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye has declared that the 396 people who had primary and secondary contacts with the deceased Assistant Chief Nursing Officer of Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Idi- Aba in Abeokuta, who died of Lassa fever have been declared free from the disease.
The Commissioner who disclosed this in an interview with Journalists at his Office, Oke- Mosan, Abeokuta, maintained that during the process of monitoring the 396 people, a new case was recorded where about 50 contacts were traced to the new victim.
He however, noted that the blood samples of the 19 primary contacts out of the 50 suspected victims have been tested and given clean bill of health.
Ipaye said the new suspected victim who died at UCH Ibadan could not be counted for Ogun State, saying that the remaining 31 secondary contacts have been placed under close monitoring.
He explained that none of the contacts so far had signs of the symptoms adding that they would remain under close surveillance for a specified period in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard after which their status would be determined.
Ipaye urged members of the public not to panic as government was on top of the situation, stressing the need for the people to ensure high level of hygiene and keeping all food items away from rats and rodents.
The Commissioner also advised members of the public to report any case of malaria symptoms that may have exceeded three days of treatment to the nearest General Hospital, the Ministry of Health, Oke-Mosan.
