Contrary to expectations, the United States is yet to approach Nigeria for assistance with regards to methods used to contain Ebola.
The US had last week recorded its first Ebola case in circumstances similar to the importation of the virus to Nigeria by the Liberian-born American Diplomat, late Mr. Patrick Sawyer.
Thomas Duncan, the first person to have been diagnosed with Ebola in the US, is said to be fighting for his life in a hospital in Dallas.
Based on the feat recorded by the Federal Government in the containment of Ebola in Lagos and Port Harcourt, speculations had been rife that the US would seek the intervention of Nigeria.
But the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, newsmen that US had yet to approach Nigeria for assistance.
His Special Assistant, Media and Communications, Mr. Dan Nwomeh, made the clarification during an inquiry by our correspondent on Monday in Abuja.
“As at Friday really, there was no formal request by the United States, for assistance in the containment of Ebola Virus Disease,” he said.
The Ebola case in US was recorded in Dallas, Texas, and was from a patient who had reportedly just come back from Liberia.
A statement from the Director of Centre for Disease Control and the Texas Health Department, Dr. Tom Frieden, last Tuesday said the patient had been hospitalised while contact tracing had commenced.
The patient had no symptoms when leaving West Africa, but was said to have developed symptoms approximately four days after arriving in the US on Sept. 20.
He said, “The person fell ill on Sept. 24 and sought medical care at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas on Sept. 26. After developing symptoms consistent with Ebola, he was admitted to hospital on Sept. 28. Based on the person’s travel history and symptoms, CDC recommended testing for Ebola.
“The medical facility isolated the patient and sent specimens for testing at CDC and at a Texas lab participating in the CDC’s Laboratory Response Network. CDC and the Texas Health Department reported the laboratory test results to the medical center to inform the patient.
“Local public health officials have begun identifying close contacts of the person for further daily monitoring for 21 days after exposure. A CDC team was dispatched to Dallas, Tuesday morning.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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time shall come when d whole world will depend on nigeria for help.i pray dat all dis bad eggs will move out of road so dat youth will take over.jonathan carry on.......chusy
ReplyDeleteIt is no doubt Nigerians do grate everywhere we find ourselves in terms of positive knowledge power, but the evil set of people in that country will not want to give way for positive progress. I still keep saying it, I don't see any reason Nigeria can not be like Dubai, but these same set of people don't want things to happen as they enjoy destruction, I believe everyone woukd have gain more positively including the thieves, and no one will run after them b/c legitimately the have made the money and even invest it in the country, in such case, who wants such people chased when they put food on people table by providing jobs.
ReplyDeleteMinister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has really shown leadership in his strategy to tame and contain the widespread of Ebola in Nigeria. Please render help to Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Those nations are in desperate need not America.
ReplyDeleteWhy is this even an issue for Nigeria? Like anon 12:20 said, those who are our own are in desperate need. Even if Nigeria helps America, they(America) wouldn't admit it.
ReplyDelete