First Consultants Medical Center Where Patrick Sawyer Died Explains How It All Started

Below is a press statement released by the management of the
hospital;

In the interest of our patients, staff, the general public
the nation at large we state the following:

A 40-years old gentleman came into the hospital with
symptoms suggestive of Malaria (fever, headache, extreme weakness) on Sunday
night (20th July 2014). He was fully conscious and gave us his clinical history
and told us he is a Senior Diplomat from Liberia. Laboratory investigations
confirmed malaria whilst other test for HIV, Hepatitis B&C were negative.
He was admitted and treatment commenced.

However, due to the fact that he was not responding to
treatment but rather was developing haemorrhagic symptoms we further questioned
him. He denied having been in contact with any persons with EVD (Ebola Virus
Disease) at home, in any hospital or at any burial.

In spite of this denial we immediately decided to do the
following:

1. To conduct further tests for possible Infectious
Haemorrhagic Disease, especially EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE, based on the fact that he
was a Liberian citizen and the recent outbreak of EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE in that
country.

2. We immediately isolated/quarantined the patient,
commenced barrier nursing and simultaneously contacted the Lagos State Ministry
of Health and the Federal Ministry of Health to enquire where further laboratory
tests could be performed as we had a high index of suspicion of possible EBOLA
VIRUS DISEASE

3. WE REFUSED FOR HIM TO BE LET OUT OF THE HOSPITAL IN SPITE
OF INTENSE PRESSURE, AS WE WERE TOLD THAT HE WAS A SENIOR ECOWAS OFFICIAL AND
HAD AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY AT THE ECOWAS CONVENTION IN CALABAR, CROSS RIVER
STATE.

4. The initial test results from LUTH laboratory indicated a
signal of possible EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE, but required confirmation.

5. We then took the further step of reaching out to Senior
Officials in the office of the Secretary of Health of the United States of
America who promptly assisted us with contacts at the centres for Disease
Control (CDC) and World Health Organisation Regional Laboratory Centre in
Senegal.

6. Working jointly with the State, Federal Agencies and
International Agencies, we were able to obtain confirmation of EBOLA VIRUS
DISEASE (ZAIRE STRAIN), (W.H.O. Regional Center Lab-Senegal/Redeemes lab/LUTH
Laboratory)

7. The gentleman subsequently died on Friday at a 6.50 (25th
July, 2014)

8. All agencies were promptly notified and in consultation
with W.H.O, Regional EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE Centre in Conakry, Guinea and Best
Practices, the following was commenced:

a. Orderly temporarily shut down of the hospital with immediate
evacuation of in house patients

b. The appropriate professional removal of the body and its
incineration under W.H.O. guidelines, witnessed by all appropriate agencies.

9. Having concluded the above, it is now appropriate to give
this press release in the interest of our patient, staff, the general public
and the nation at large.

10. In keeping with W.H.O, guidelines, hospital is shut down
briefly as full decontamination exercise is currently in progress W.H.O. guidelines.

In conclusion, working with the STATE, FEDERAL AND
INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES, we were able to identify and confirm the diagnosis of
the EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE. We hope that by our action of preventing this
gentleman from being extracted from our hospital and traveling to Calabar we have
been able to prevent the spread of EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE in Nigeria.

The Board and Management of the Hospital wish to thank all
our staff members for their diligence and professionalism.