August 4, 2014 – The Federal Government on Monday said that only one out of the eight persons that had primary contact with Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian that died of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Lagos has tested positive to the disease.
It also identified the person as a female medical doctor and that she is not dead. The Federal Government gave the clarification at a joint press conference it addressed with officials of the Lagos State Government.
Speaking at the occasion, Director General Nigerian Centre for Decease Control, Professor Abdusalami Nasidi said the other seven that had primary contact with Sawyer have been quarantined and are under close observation.
He appealed to Nigerians to be calm and desist from sending messages that could cause tension and exacerbate the situation.
Also speaking at the conference, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said government would not disclose identity of the patient adding that it is not good and un-professional. “It is not good. It is unprofessional”, he said adding that government is currently in touch with the families of the infected doctor for the purpose of counselling.
He said experts from national and international organisation are now in Nigeria and currently attending to the doctor and that the others who are under close observation.
He explained that anybody that has any contact with persons infected with the disease should report to health care centres for proper medical attention adding that for now the only mode for contracting the disease is primarily through fluid. So far 729 people have died of EVD.
As of 27 July 2014, the cumulative number of cases attributed to EVD in the four countries stands at 1 323 including 729 deaths, the World Health Organisation(WHO) has said.
“The distribution and classification of the cases are as follows: Guinea, 460 cases (336 confirmed, 109 probable, and 15 suspected) including 339 deaths; Liberia, 329 cases (100 confirmed, 128 probable, and 101 suspected) including 156 deaths; Nigeria, 1 case (1 probable who died); and Sierra Leone, 533 cases (473 confirmed, 38 probable, and 22 suspected) including 233 deaths”, said WHO.
