Lassa fever: UNIBEN dismisses rumours of student’s death

Alexander Okere, Benin

The University of Benin, Edo State, on Monday dismissed the speculation that the deadly Lassa fever has claimed the life of one of its students.

The university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Michael Osasuyi, disclosed this to The PUNCH on the telephone.

There had been widespread rumours that a final-year  student of engineering died of the virus recently.

The student was said to be an occupant in Hall Three, one of the hostels in the Ugbowo campus of the university.

No fewer than nine persons have reportedly died in Edo after contracting the Lassa fever virus, many of whom were said to have reported late for treatment at the Irrua Specialist Hospital.

But Osasuyi explained that the institution had no record of such an incident at the univer‎sity medical centre.

The spokesperson, who stated that the university community was informed about a girl with a suspected case of Lassa fever, which, however, turned out negative, added that any case of infection or death resulting from the epidemic could be verified either at the health centre or the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

He said, “They just said that a girl was brought in and then, because of the symptoms they saw, they tested her and discovered that it was not Lassa fever.

“The other rumour making the rounds is that a final-year student of engineering contracted Lassa fever virus and died, that the person was staying in Hall Three. And there was nothing like that.”

Osaysuyi, however, noted that the management of the university was currently carrying out proactive measures to forestall any outbreak in the institution.

He explained that a committee had been set up to give the necessary orientation to staff and students of the university.