The Federal Government has announced the containment of the deadly Ebola Virus. Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu revealed this at a media briefing today (Tuesday). In a statement released by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media and Communication, Dan Nwomeh, the country had thirteen cases of the Ebola Virus Disease including Patrick Sawyer, the index case.
Read the full statement inside...
Today is the 38th day since the Ebola Virus Disease was imported into Nigeria by a Liberian-American. As of today, 26th August, 2014, Nigeria has had thirteen (13) cases of EVD including the index case. Of these thirteen (13), five (5), including the index case unfortunately did not survive the disease and are now late.
However, seven (7) of the infected persons were successfully managed at the Isolation ward in Lagos and have been discharged home. Two (2) of treated patients, a male doctor and a female nurse were discharged yesterday evening, 25th August, 2014 having satisfied the criteria for discharge.
As I speak to you, Nigeria has only one confirmed case of EVD, a secondary contact of Mr. Patrick Sawyer’s and spouse of one of the physicians who participated in the management of the index case. She is stable but still on treatment at the Isolation ward in Lagos.
So far, all the reported cases of the EVD in Nigeria have their root in the index case, the late Mr. Patrick Sawyer. This is an indication that, thus far, Nigeria has contained the disease outbreak.
I wish to reassure Nigerians and indeed the global community that the Government shall remain vigilant and will not relent as Government continues to work with her partners to ensure that the disease is kept out of the country.
The deadly virus has killed over 1,300 people in West Africa and a couple of other places; with the World Health Organization (WHO) describing it as the worst outbreak of the disease.