Nigeria Records First Dead From Ebola Disease

         


odogwuemekaodogwu.blogspot.com reports that after several speculations regarding a possible outbreak of Ebola disease in the country,  one dead resulting from the virus occurred  today in Lagos, compelling the Federal Government to embark on frantic efforts to calm the nerves of Nigerians.

The victim identified as Mr. Patrick Sawyer, was said to be traveling from Monrovia, Liberia to Nigeria with Asky Airline via Lome to Lagos. 


According to officials,  "the passenger,  a 40 year old man" who showed symptoms of "fever,  vomiting and diarrhea on arrival at the airport" was "quickly isolated and transported straight to the hospitals" by officials of Port Health Service of the Federal Ministry of Health.

Addressing journalists  this afternoon in Abuja,  the Minister of Health,  Prof.  Onyebuchi Chukwu alongside the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku said the "patient was subjected to thorough medical evaluation where laboratory investigations were also carried out."
But before the press brief by the minister ,the Nigeria Medical Association, Lagos Chapter, today said it will partner the Lagos State government to prevent outbreak of Ebola Virus in the state.

A Liberian was tested for the virus on Thursday, the state ministry of health said.

The NMA Chairman, Dr. Tayo Ojo, made this known at the inaugural briefing of the newly elected executives of the association in Lagos.

This effort, he said followed the case of the Liberian, which was reported by the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina on Thursday.

Ojo said the preliminary investigation was pointing in the direction of Ebola Virus disease.

“As a medical association, we are primary custodian of heath issues and we shall partner with the government prevent an outbreak of the disease, “he said.

He advised the public to imbibe environmental and personal hygiene culture to ward off the outbreak.

On the ongoing NMA strike which commenced on July 1, Ojo said this was not in any way related to additional wage demand, rather to draw the Federal Government’s attention to the problems in the sector

Meanwhile a Liberian identified as Mr. Patrick Sawyer, who came to Lagos aboard a flight from Monrovia on Sunday and suspected to have the deadly Ebola virus is dead.

Although there is no official confirmation on the development, our reporter gathered that Sawyer died on Thursday at an undisclosed hospital in the state where he was receiving treatment.

He was reportedly on admission in the hospital and placed on intensive treatment since Sunday.

A medical scientist told journalists that, “The Liberian was initially responding to treatment, but plans were made to fly him back to his country when the situation worsened.”

When contacted, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, who was seen holding book on standard medical procedure for Ebola epidemic declined comment on the victim’s death, saying she was heading for a meeting on the issue.

Adesina had on Thursday alerted residents of the state about the discovery, assuring that the state government has taken proactive steps to handle its spread.