Lassa Fever Kills Nurse In Edo

Lassa fever outbreak has reportedly claimed the life of a male nurse in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo.

The victim identified as Mr. Henry Ehimati is said to have been working with Okomu Oil Palm Company staff clinic.

According to a source who spoke to NAN, the suspected case was observed last week by a doctor in charge of the disease control at the clinic.

He noted that the deceased was unusually weak and with a high fever.

“By the time they admitted him at the clinic and run test on him, they detected that he had ‘2 plus’ malaria, with protein in his blood.

“As the fever got worse by the day, they then decided to transfer him to a private clinic in Benin City, last Saturday, where they also conducted several tests on him.

“As the fever got worse by the day, they then decided to transfer him to a private clinic in Benin City, last Saturday, where they also conducted several tests on him.

“But he died at the clinic even before they could finalise arrangements to take him there.’’

It was gathered that the nurse was in his 30s and married with a child.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr David Osifo, has disregarded the report saying, “It is a lie. If somebody had malaria and died, is that confirmed to be Lassa fever? There is no truth in it. He was not diagnosed in a hospital.”