Ebola: Lagos confirms 2 people who came in contact with dead Liberian victim down with fever

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

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

Mr. 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.

Mr. Idris said the state government would continue to monitor all contacts with the victim 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 commissioner said.

“The contact 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 them period of 21 days from their exposure to the victim.”

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 —through, airport, seaport and border crossing — to identify any traveller with symptoms.

Mr. 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 cases for government`s intervention.

Saying diseases thrive well in dirty environments, Mr. Idris urged residents to maintain clean body and environment to reduce the risk of the virus.

Also speaking, Abdul Salim Nasidi of the National Disease Control Centre said although disease has 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.

Mr. Nasidi said the Federal Government was doing everything to check the threat of the disease and urged citizens not to panic as no fresh case had been discovered yet in the country.

(NAN)