Efforts by the Nigerian Government to contain the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, imported into the country by American – Liberian, late Patrick Sawyer Thursday took a dramatic twist as the virus claimed another life of a medical doctor in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
His death has brought the number of deaths from EVD in Nigeria to six.
The death of the doctor has also led to the quarantine of his wife and 70 persons in the State under surveillance. Disclosing these Thursday, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu explained further that the total number of cases of EVD cases so far reported in Nigeria stands at 15.
“The total number of cases treated at our isolation ward stands at 13.
The total number of those discharged is 7, and the total number currently under treatment is one and the person is stable and improving clinically.” Chukwu said
Throwing light on the death of the doctor in Portharcourt, he disclosed that the wife of of the late doctor is already showing symptoms of Ebola.
According to Chukwu, the late doctor who died last Friday contract the virus from one of the primary contact of the index (first)case (Mr. Patrick Sawyer).
He explained that the primary contact who is presently free from Ebola but further laboratory tests indicate that he had suffered EVD, had evaded surveillance team in the last week of July 2014 and travelled out of Lagos to Port Harcourt where, he consulted with the late doctor and was apparently treated for some symptoms.
” After four days, following a manhunt for him, he returned to Lagos by which time he was found to be without symptoms.
He further explained that the government would not have been interested in the contact’s case after he had completed the 21 days of surveillance, but for the fact that the doctor who treated him died last Friday, 22 nd August, 2014.
The Minister said:”Following the report of the death by the doctor’s widow the next day, the case had been thoroughly investigated and laboratory analysis showed that this doctor died from EVD.
“As a result, several contacts have now been traced, registered and placed under surveillance. However, because the widow is now symptomatic, she has been quarantined pending the outcome of laboratory tests on her.
“The Incident Management Committee has already deployed a very strong team to Port Harcourt to work with the health authorities of Rivers State. Just like the situation has effectively been managed in Lagos and Enugu, the situation in Port Harcourt will also similarly be effectively managed and we have begun to do so.
“The total number of deaths from Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria, therefore, is now 6, the index case (Mr. Sawyer), the 4 primary contacts that died in the isolation ward in Lagos, and a doctor that died in Port Harcourt whose blood sample tested positive after death.
He further disclosed that 70 persons have been placed under surveillance in Port Harcourt.
He charged residents of Port Harcourt not to panic over the situation as the experience gathered from Lagos and Enugu respectively indicate that there is no cause for alarm when the government is fully in control of the situation.
Chukwu appealled to all contacts under surveillance to abide by the advice given to them by the Incident Management Committee.
On Enugu contacts, he said all secondary contacts will be followed up till tomorrow when they are all expected to be discharged from our surveillance. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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