Ebola: Confirmed cases now 13 – FG

Ebola: Confirmed cases now 13 – FG


THE Federal Government has stated that the official number of confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, including the index (first) case in the country is 13 and not 14 as earlier announced, even as one more Ebola patient under treatment has recovered and is almost ready for discharge.

Giving an explanation for the reduction in cases, Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu stated in Abuja, yesterday, that the 14th Ebola case initially announced as positive had eventually turned out to be false.

Chukwu, who reacted while giving an update on EVD in Nigeria, affirmed that “the total number of deaths due to EVD (including the index case) remains five, while the total number of those treated and discharged is also five.

“Total number of EVD patients currently under treatment in the isolation ward is now three.

The Ebola patient under treatment has recovered and almost ready for discharge. This patient was a primary contact of the index case, it was gathered.

The need for confirmation about the actual total number of confirmed Ebola patients and those under treatment at the isolation ward became necessary following conflicting reports in the media.

Liberian doctor dies after receiving ZMapp

A Liberian doctor who received one of the last known doses of ZMapp, an experimental Ebola drug, has died, even as Canada said it has yet to send out doses of a potential vaccine that the government is donating.

Dr. Abraham Borbor, the deputy chief medical doctor at Liberia’s largest hospital, had received ZMapp, after it was given to two Americans. After receiving medical care in the U.S. they later survived the virus that had killed about half of its victims.

Only six people in the world are known to have received the untested ZMapp. The small supply is now said to be exhausted and it is expected to be months before more can be produced by its U.S. maker.

Nigeria can kick out Ebola by Sept if… – Experts

Meanwhile, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to check the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease in the country, science and technology experts had declared that Nigeria can still achieve 100 per cent eradication of the disease by September this year if the country could sustain the current momentum.

Director, National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Prof. Abdulsami Nasidi, who stated this in Abuja, said Nigerians should no longer panic about the spread of Ebola because “it is already under serious check by the authorities.

“Those that are involved are being monitored and those that are first level of contact have started recovering. Our scientists are at work and I know that if the current effort by the Federal government to check the Ebola Virus is sustained, Ebola will be completely be eradicated in Nigeria by September, provided the people maintain clean and good hygiene and avoid any person to person contact.”

He insisted that people without prior contact with Ebola disease have no businesses to be subjected to any blood screening before they can travel out of the country.

Also speaking, Prof. Sunday Omilabu of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, dispelled the fear about Ebola spread in the country, saying that the scientists are already keeping the samples of the victims and ensuring that people do not get in contact with them.

“We know how we keep samples in the laboratory, where we make sure people do not get contact with them. The virus has been studied and now we know how the virus is transmitted and we know that it is true that some animals, especially gorillas, monkeys that come across infested fruits and of course, person to person transmission can transmit the virus to others.

FG sensitises traders in FCT

Also, as part of efforts to curb the spread of EVD in the country, the Federal government commenced sensitisation campaign for market women and men in the nation’s capital.

At a workshop and sensitisation on Ebola virus organised by the National Orientation Agency, NOA, there were in attendance 22 chapters of Association of Market Women cut across the six local area councils in the Federal Capital Territory.

During the campaign, hygienic environment, washing of hands with soap/ash and water always couple with avoiding eating improperly cooked ‘bush meat’ were rolled out as tips for the residents to observe.

Director General, NOA, in his opening remarks told the gathering to avoid contact with blood, urine, saliva, sweat of infected animal or patient, dead or alive.

These are in addition to reporting of the death of suspected patients to the nearest health facility as well as avoiding traditional burial practices such as embalming or washing of the dead body of infected patient.

Director-General, NOA, Omeri said the Federal Government had already placed the Federal Ministry of Health on red alert to prevent the spread of the disease.

The DG explained that with the current situation in the country, what people need to do was to cooperate with the government to curtail the spread of the ebola virus