Lassa Fever: Fear Grips OAUTH Workers as Doctor Bleeds to Death

Doctors, nurses, medical personnel and patients at the Emergency Unit of the hospital where the doctor died on Monday hurriedly fled the unit apparently for fear of contracting the highly contagious viral disease.

It was learnt that the doctor died after vomiting blood within the hospital premises.
A medical doctor in the hospital who preferred anonymity told THISDAY that the doctor had visited Ekiti State before arriving Ile-Ife on Monday.

But the authorities of OAUTHC debunked insinuations that the doctor died as a result of Lassa fever.
Speaking with THISDAY on phone yesterday, the Chairman, OAUTHC on Lassa Fever, Prof. Adedeji Onayade, confirmed the death of the doctor but said the fact that the doctor bled to death cannot be taken t, to mean that he  have contracted the deadly virus.

Onayade stressed that blood sample of the late doctor had been obtained and sent to the federal government for confirmation.
He noted that until the result of the blood sample was confirmed positive, it could not be said that the hospital recorded a case of Lassa fever.

However, in spite of the assurance, an atmosphere of fear enveloped the entire Obafemi Awolowo University community as soon as the news of the doctor’s demise hit the air.