Ebola: Two down with fever in Lagos after contact with victim

The Lagos State Government on Friday said two persons out of those who had contacts with Mr. Patrick Sawyer, the dead Liberian Ebola victim, had manifested symptoms of fever.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, made the disclosure when he addressed newsmen on the update of the country‘s first Ebola case in Ikeja.

Idris said the two persons were among the 70 contacts being monitored and investigated for any symptoms of the disease by the state government and other partners.

The commissioner, who said the two cases were under observation, however stressed that they did not test positive  to the virus.

Idris said the state government would continue to monitor all contacts with the victims until the end of the 21 incubation day  period of the virus.

“Our Rapid Response Team is currently tracking all contacts of persons exposed to the dead passenger with Ebola virus.

“The contract tracing team is following 70 contacts of the EVD case and linking them to clinical support when needed.

“Two suspect cases had fever, they are under observation and so far have tested  negative to the virus.

“The monitoring of suspect cases will continue until the end of the period of 21 days from their exposure to the victim,’’ he said.

The commissioner said an emergency operation centre had been activated in Lagos ,by the state  and its partners as part of efforts to check the threat  of the virus.

He added that the Federal Government had stepped up measures to screen incoming passengers to Nigeria to identify any traveler with symptoms through, airport, seaport and border crossing.

Idris said a deceased body was recently brought to Nigeria from Liberia, explaining that the government was investigating if he died from Ebola.

The commissioner urged residents to collaborate with government in checking the Ebola threat in the country by reporting suspected case for government‘s intervention.

While saying diseases thrived well in dirty environments, Idris urged residents to maintain clean body and environment to reduce the risk of the virus.

Also speaking. Prof. Abdul Salim Nasidi of the National Disease Control Centre said noted that though disease had no cure ,it was treatable.

He warned members of the public against emphasizing that the virus had not cure,saying it might discourage those with suspected cases from accessing treatment.

While saying the Federal Government was doing everything to check the threat of the disease,Nasidi urged citizens not to panic as no fresh case had been discovered yet in the country