We treated Lassa fever, not Ebola patient – UCH CMD

by Isi Esene

Professor Temitope Alonge, the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo, has denied speculations that the medical facility is treating a patient infected with the deadly Ebola Virus.

Alonge said that there is no truth in the rumour explaining that a patient who was admitted in the early hours of Thursday had Lassa Fever and not Ebola.

The UCH CMD, however, acknowledged that both Ebola and Lassa are of the same haemorrhagic fever.

Alonge said, “Four days ago, a patient was admitted to West West three after she put to bed. It was observed that she was bleeding continuously after the delivery and there was the fear of what it could be. Test was carried out on her and it was discovered that she had developed fever after delivery. She died while undergoing treatment.

“Also, there was another case of a young driver who was brought in from Lagos unconsciously in the early hours of Thursday. The nurses on duty had to screen and test him but because he was unconscious, the test had to be conducted extensively. The efforts of the nurses revealed that the patient had jaundice but when assessment commenced, the diagnosis of the blood sample showed Lassa fever. Immediately, the patient was moved to the e-tent from the triad bay for necessary treatments, but unfortunately, the patient died at about 8:45 pm Friday.”

The CMD explained that the hospital has treated patients with Lassa fever before now with some measure of success but this particular case was brought in with severe complications which made it worse.

He expressed satisfaction at the level of professionalism displayed by the medical officers who treated the patient adding that he personally supervised the case.

“The patient had developed system breakdown before getting to UCH but we tried our best. Our team of Doctors had packaged the corpse according to World Health Organisation, WHO standard on haemorrhagic fever and the relatives have been adequately informed,“ Alonge said.

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