Lagos female doctor contracts Ebola virus

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu,
on Monday said one of the doctors that treated the
Liberian-born American, Patrick Sawyer, who died
of the Ebola disease, had contracted the virus.
Chukwu made this known in Abuja as Reuters
news agency quoted the Geneva-based World
Health Organisation as saying in a statement that
Nigeria had four cases, of which three were
classed as ‘probable’ Ebola and one as
‘suspected.’
The death toll from the Ebola outbreak, according
to WHO, rose from 729 to 887 by August 1. The
total number of cases in the four West African
countries affected is now 1,603.
Sawyer, who arrived at the Murtala Mohammed
Airport, Lagos on July 20, died at an Obalende
hospital five days after.
Chukwu said, ‘‘This is now the second case of
Ebola virus disease in Nigeria. This victim is one
of the doctors who attended to the patient who
brought Ebola virus to Nigeria.’’
He also told journalists in Abuja that ‘‘about eight
other persons who came into contact with
Sawyer, and who had developed the Ebola
symptoms, had been quarantined while 70 others
were under surveillance.’’
The minister said, “All those who came into
contact with the late Sawyer depending on the
level of contact are still being traced and being
invited every day and they are placed under
surveillance just to ensure that the spread of
disease is curtailed.”
He added that the Federal Government was
currently reinforcing the technical working group
on Ebola to include 35 state governments. Lagos
State already has a TWG.
The minister allayed the fears being expressed
by the public about the corpses that were brought
into Anambra and Imo states from some countries
which already had records of the deadly disease.
He said, “Medical records have proved that the
corpse taken to Imo State was not carrying Ebola
while test is being carried out on the one taken to
Anambra State.
‘‘We are collaborating with all the state
governments to establish isolation wards for
persons proven symptomatic to Ebola and a 24-
hour emergency operation centre.”
The minister also on Monday inaugurated an Ebola
Treatment and Research Group with a mandate to
carry out an extensive research into the Ebola
virus.
Chukwu said the group would receive and verify
claims on Ebola cure; collate and analyse
researches on the virus and advise the
government as may be appropriate.
The group, according to the minister, has the
Director – General of the Nigerian Institute of
Pharmaceutical Research and Development and
the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of
Medical Research as chairmen.
He added that the Nigerian researcher, who had
found evidence of Bitter Kola inhibiting the growth
of Ebola virus, Prof. Maurice Iwu ,and the
Director-General of the Nigerian Centre for
Disease Control are also members of the group.
Iwu was also a former chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission.
Chukwu said, “Although the research on bitter kola
was not concluded, no progress can be made
without research. For now, there is no
scientifically proven vaccine or drug for the
treatment of Ebola.”
He assured the public that the Federal
Government was doing everything to stop the
outbreak of the disease but enjoined everybody to
embrace good hygiene by constantly washing their
hands