Ondo residents shun handshakes, hugging

Fears of the spread of Lassa fever have made residents of Ondo State, especially those in Owo, Akure, Akoko and Ondo town to avoid hugging and handshakes.

Though the state’s Epidemiologist, Dr. Stephen Fagbemi, told Daily Trust that the situation had stabilized as there were no new cases from Thursday outside the 89 cases earlier reported, there is great fear among the people, even as the level of awareness on the disease has increased, probably due to the broadcast by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and various media reports.

Out of the 89 cases recorded, 16 people died, 24 were treated and discharged while the rest are still receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo.

As at yesterday morning, the centre was filled up and the state government had to create another one in Akure to take new patients. Fagbemi said the government had just finished upgrading the centre and from yesterday it would start admitting patients.

A doctor at the centre, Dr. Adeniyi Adetayo, said some of them had been trained on how to handle the situation. According to him, about 25 health workers were trained and are ready to take up the challenge. Three ambulances were also placed on standby.

At the FMC in Owo, movement was restricted and patients were kept in isolated wards. Most patients who complained of malaria fever were asked to go through proper checks to ensure they are not infected with the Lassa fever virus.

A woman, Mrs. Ajayi, said she brought her daughter to the hospital suspecting that she had malaria but was told to go through the test and she was relieved when the result came out negative.

Bur Mr. Ola Ikugbehin was not as lucky, as he said his brother was taken to the hospital after complaining of fever and weakness of the body. He later tested positive to Lassa fever and was placed on admission.

Meanwhile, Governor Akeredolu has appealed to people of the state to keep their environments clean and avoid rats in their vicinity. He urged market women to keep the markets clean and ensure that they cover food. He also asked traditional rulers to mobilize their subjects to desist from acts that could expose them to the disease.

The Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, thanked the governor for being on the fore front of the fight against the disease and urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency on the disease, adding that he had directed his palace town criers to invite various groups to the palace for sensitization. The governor had in a broadcast within the week appealed to the people to keep to keep their environments clean.