Ebola: Health Minister confirms two new cases as Doctor dies in Port Harcourt & 70 under surveillance
Two people in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have
contracted Ebola Virus Disease (EVD {We reported
here yesterday]), minister of health, Professor
Onyebuchi Chukwu, confirmed on Thursday. Since
Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer introduced the
virus to Nigeria on July 20, this is the first time an
Ebola case would be confirmed outside Lagos.
According to Chukwu, the total number of cases of
Ebola recorded in the country now stands at 15,
against the 13 reported on Monday. He said the two
additional cases of the disease were recorded in Port
Harcourt, where a staff member of ECOWAS who
had contact with Patrick Sawyer but evaded
surveillance, checked into a hospital in the city with
symptoms of the deadly virus.
“As of today, August 28, the total number of Ebola
cases stands at 15. Remember we told you it was 13
on Monday. But today, there have been two
additional cases in Port Harcourt,” the minister
said.
“A man who works for ECOWAS, a primary contact
of the index case, evaded surveillance and
travelled to Port Harcourt. He became ill and he
went to hospital in Port Harcourt for treatment.
Although he recovered, the doctor who treated him
died last week. The widow of the doctor alerted us
and we investigated the case.
“It is now confirmed that the doctor died of Ebola.
His widow has been put under quarantine. The
ECOWAS staff member is also under quarantine.
There are evidence that he had the virus but might
have recovered. We cannot rule out the option that
he still has the virus.”
Chukwu disclosed that 70 people who are secondary
contacts of the two Ebola cases in Port Harcourt
have been traced and placed under surveillance.
“As it stands, 141 persons who are secondary
contacts are under surveillance in Lagos, 70 in Port
Harcourt and 6 in Enugu. 200 persons have
completed the 21 days incubation period of the
virus without developing symptoms,” he said.
“There is still only one case of virus in Lagos. The
patient is responding to treatment and may be
discharged soon.”
The minister however assured Nigerians that the
government would contain the virus, advising that
citizens should not panic.
