No fewer than 59 people who had contacts with the Ebola virus victim who died in Lagos last week have been placed on close surveillance, the state government disclosed on Monday.
It added that the precise number of passenger contacts is yet to be ascertained due to non-cooperation of the airline that brought the victim to Lagos.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, announced this yesterday at a new conference held in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Health officials at the Staff Clinic in Alausa, Ikeja.
"So far a total of 59 contacts have been registered consisting the hospital contacts, healthcare workers, laboratory staff and Airport contacts comprising three Economic Communities of West African States (ECOWAS) staff-driver, Liaison, and Protocol officer, Nigerian Ambassador to Monrovia, two Nursing staff and five Airport passenger handlers," he said.
Idris said 20 contacts had been screened with some having type one contact and others with type two contacts.
He lamented that the manifest of the ASky Airline Flight No KP50 that brought the victim into the country has not been provided by the airline.
The commissioner said an isolation ward has been designated by the Lagos State Ministry of Health at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba for case management.
"The designation of three other health facilities is underway. A total of 100 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) were procured by the National Centre Disease Control FMOH and distributed to the private hospital and the State Ministry of Health. WHO also donated 250 PPE's to the NCDC/FMOH," he said.
He said traditional and religious leaders were alerted about the disease and requested to report promptly to health care workers.
"We can categorically state that as of today we have only one case of imported Ebola and one death. No Nigerian is infected, but all contacts are being actively followed," he said.
In Addendum,
International Centre for Investigative Reporting
Health Official Declares Nigeria Free Of # Ebola
The # Lagos State government said on Monday that it had
reached a total of 59 persons who had physical contact with
# Sawyer and screened 20, none of who tested positive for
Ebola; Nigerians have been advised not to panic or stigmatize
but report anyone with such persistent symptoms to the
designated call centres: 08023169485, 08055329229,
08033086660, 08033065303 and 08055281442... http://
icirnigeria.org/health-official-declares-nigeria-free-of-ebola
/
Akogun Olalekan™
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