56 New Patients Die of Ebola Virus Disease as Death Toll Hits 1,069

Twenty-one persons in Enugu are also being watched. This is because one of the nurses that was involved with the treatment of the index case, unfortunately, disobeyed medical instructions and somehow traveled to Enugu. All those whom she was in contact with including her husband are under quarantine. The medical team have been able to trace all those who made contact with her

August 13, 2014 – The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that fifty-six people infected with the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) have died in the last two days.

The new figure now brings the death toll to 1,069 in four West African countries of Nigeria(3), Liberia(355), Guinea(377), Sierra Leon(334) WHO has said. So far, 12 cases have been recorded in Nigeria. This is coming just as the second nurse that tested positive to EVD is said to have escaped from quarantine to Enugu State.

The nurse was one of the two nurses that attended to the index case, Patrick Sawyer the American Liberian that died of EVD in Lagos. The first nurse has died of the disease, but she was in isolation in Lagos before her reported escape to Enugu.

Nigeria’s Minister for Information, Mr. Labaran Maku made the revelation after the weekly executive council meeting in Abuja. He said 21 persons who have primary contact with the nurse in Enugu have now been quarantined.

“Twenty-one persons in Enugu are also being watched. This is because one of the nurses that was involved with the treatment of the index case, unfortunately, disobeyed medical instructions and somehow traveled to Enugu.

“All those whom she was in contact with including her husband are under quarantine. The medical team have been able to trace all those who made contact with her,” Maku said.

He said that of the 198 persons under surveillance, 177 are in Lagos while 21 are in Enugu as a result of the nurse’s journey.
So far the Lagos State Government is yet to react to reported escape of the nurse from isolation in Lagos to Enugu.