COVID-19: How Medical Doctor Infected 10 Family Members in Bauchi

Malik Yahya/

A medical doctor in Bauchi State reportedly infected 10 members of his family after testing positive for COVID-19.

Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BSPHCDA), Dr. Rilwanu Muhammed, disclosed this in Bauchi, the state capital, yesterday.

He said nine members of the family have however been discharged, leaving only his nine-year-old son who is yet to recover from the disease.

Mohammed said the doctor, whose identity he kept secret, may have contracted the virus while treating COVID-19 patients but failed to self-isolate, thereby exposing his family members to the deadly virus.

”The doctor and nine of his family members were recently discharged but the last child, a nine-year-old boy, is still in isolation.

“When the doctor became infected, instead of allowing other doctors to take care of him, he went home with it. He ought to have placed himself on a sick roll and allow others to treat him. That you’re a doctor doesn’t mean you can treat yourself of COVID-19,” he stated.

Mohammed advised health workers who become infected to submit themselves for treatment, adding that no fewer than 24 health workers have tested positive for COVID-19 so far, with 17 from Azare community in Katagum Local Government Area and seven from Bauchi Local Government.

Mohammed, who is also the Chairman of COVID-19 Contact Tracing Committee in the state, said failure by infected patients to provide true information about their symptoms was one of the factors exposing health workers in the state to dangers of infection.

According to him, health workers most times may have had contact with an infected patient before knowing his or her COVID-19 status.

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