Lassa fever kills nurse in Edo

BENIN –  An outbreak of Lassa fever has allegedly claimed the life of Mr Henry Ehimati, a male nurse working with Okomu Oil Palm Company staff clinic, located in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo.
The victim, said to be in his 30s and married with a child, works at the clinic, but lives with his family at Upper Sakponba area of Benin whenever he was off duty.
A credible source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Benin that a doctor in charge of the disease control at the clinic observed the victim.
The source said the medical doctor observed that the deceased was unusually weak and with high fever last week.
“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.
“When they suspected that he might be suffering from Lassa fever, they then decided to transfer him to the Lassa fever centre at Irrua Teaching Hospital.
“But he died at the clinic even before they could finalise arrangements to take him there,’’ according the source.
The State Commissioner for Health, Mr David Osifo, is yet to respond to calls and a text a message sent to his mobile phone.
The Managing Director of Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, Mr Graham Heife, also failed to respond to a text message sent and call put to his mobile phone.