FG Dispels Ebola Outbreak In Calabar

The Federal Government on Friday dispelled speculation of a
suspected fresh case Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Calabar, Cross River, and
urged Nigerians to observe good hygiene behaviour.

Mr Linus Awute, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of
Health, allayed the public fear of the rumour while briefing newsmen in Abuja.

Awute said the rumours have been making round since
Wednesday Oct. 7, until government agencies concluded investigation of the
case.

He said the ministry monitored the latest speculation and
found out that it was a case of the death of a 21-year-old student of the
University of Calabar.

He said the deceased patient was brought into the causality
ward of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) by the mother and other
family members on Oct. 7.

Awute said the deceased was admitted at about one o’clock in
the morning and was investigated clinically and tested in the laboratory to
determine his ailment.

“He was admitted with bleeding, diarrhoea, vomiting, skin
rashes and mouth lesions. His temperature on admission was 37 degrees
centigrade and vital signs were stable.

“The parents said that the patient had never travelled out
of Calabar, on the basis of signs and symptoms; a tentative diagnosis of viral
Hemorrhagic fever to rule out Lassa fever was made.

“Some of his family members had a history of chicken pox a
week to his falling ill,’’ the permanent secretary said.

Awute said that the deceased was treated with antipyretics
and antibiotics during the course of his illness and he also received
intravenous fluids.

“Sadly, at exactly 8.15 p.m., seven hours post-admission,
the patient passed on,’’ Awute said.

According to him, 15 health workers and eight patients who
had direct or indirect contact with the deceased patient were quarantined.

He added that other hospital workers were provided with
thermometers to monitor their temperature twice daily.

The permanent secretary said that blood sample collected
from the patient was taken to Irrua Lassa Fever Specialist Hospital for
laboratory confirmation of the cause of the disease.

“Tests were run on the blood sample throughout the night and
this morning the result confirmed that the deceased was negative for both Ebola
and Lassa fever viral diseases.

“Additional tests using next generation sequencing methods
are currently being carried out at the Redeemers University African Centre of
Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Ede, Osun state.

“This is to confirm which virus must have caused the
infection and death and the result is expected on Monday Oct. 12, 2015,’’ he
said.

Awute urged Nigerians to collaborate with the federal
ministry of health and the entire healthcare teams to report any suspected case
to avoid reintroduction of Ebola into the country.

He said this incidence has once again demonstrated that the
fight against Ebola must be a perfect team work based on effective
collaboration between government and other stakeholders.

The Nation