Family of a victim of Lassa fever who died three weeks ago is yet to come for the corpse.
The body is still lying at the National Hospital in Abuja and yet to be buried.
It was gathered that the 33-year-old newly-married man lived in Jos, Plateau State, but came to see a relative in Kubwa when the ailment became worse.
He, however, passed on within 24 hours of admission at the National Hospital, Abuja.
An employee of the hospital hinted Punch that the family members are afraid of coming to get the corpse due to the nature of the sickness that killed him.
According to him, “The information we got was that the family of the deceased patient are scared that they may contract the disease in the process of the burial. Several calls have been put to them but it seems they are not convinced. A lot of work should be done by enlightening them that the body has been decontaminated and is, therefore, safe and harmless.”
The spokesperson for the National Hospital, Dr. Tayo Haastrup, said the hospital management had been waiting on the Federal Ministry of Health to give proper advice and directive concerning the corpse.
He also denied that employees had been scared and panicky whenever any suspected case of Lassa fever was brought to the hospital.
“Nobody is running. Our doctors, nurses and medical staff in the Accident and Emergency Department are prepared for any suspected cases of Lassa fever. We are prepared and there is no cause for alarm. All the kits are available.
“The corpse of the dead patient was well bagged as usual and cannot contaminate anybody. We have informed the Federal Ministry of Health. The ministry, through the Director, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Prof. Abdulsalami N’asidi, should advise us appropriately on it. We are waiting for the directive of the ministry,” he said.
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