Dead Coronavirus Patient Had Underlining Clinical Issues - LUTH

— As NCDC confirms 20 new cases of COVID-19

Abiodun OBA

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, on Saturday confirmed that the COVID-19 patient that died in the hospital had underlining medical issues.

In statement issued by Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode, LUTH Chief Medical Director, said the man who was a known diabetic hypertensive patient had a kidney transplant for chronic kidney disease and was on immunosuppressant drugs.

According to him, a man was brought unconscious to LUTH Emergency late in the evening of Wednesday, April 2 by his friend.

“Although, they denied any history of recent travel, his presentation strongly suggested Covid-19.

“He was handled professionally by the Infectious Diseases Consultant and his team without unduly exposing LUTH staff to danger. He died a few hours later.

“Further investigations later revealed he had earlier performed a test at Yaba soon after he travelled back to Nigeria from Holland and the test was positive.

“He was a known diabetic hypertensive patient. He also had a kidney transplant for chronic kidney disease and was on immunosuppressant drugs.

“The corpse has since been handed over to the appropriate Unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Health for safe burial according to international best practices.

“Our Department of Community Medicine has moved swiftly to trace, follow-up and assist gallant staff who managed the patient,” Bode said.

Bode said that LUTH management implored all members of staff to continue observing strict standard protocols, while handling all patients as medical personnel are especially at increased risk from such undisclosed exposure.

“All efforts are being made to ensure the availability of all required items to continue the effective management of such cases that come to LUTH.

“Efforts are also in top gear to complete the isolation facility in LUTH for management of any possible spill over from the Yaba Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), if the surge in patients’ load continues,” Bode said.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed that 20 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 210, while 25 patients have been discharged and four deaths recorded.

The NCDC said that of the 20 new cases, Lagos has 11, Abuja and Edo have three cases each; Osun – two and Ondo State has one case.

A breakdown of the cases by state shows that Lagos now has 109 cases; Abuja – 41; Osun – 22; Oyo – eight; Edo – seven; Akwa Ibom – five; Ogun and Kaduna four cases each.

Others are Bauchi – three; Enugu and Ekiti – two cases each, while Rivers, Benue and Ondo State have one case respectively.

Earlier, the Ondo State Government had announced its first index case, adding that the index case was a military officer who had been on isolation after his return from India.

Data from the Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC) shows that there are 7,028 COVID-19 cases, 284 deaths, and 561 recoveries in Africa.