The Federal Government has placed 69 persons
who had first contact with the Liberian-born
victim of Ebola Virus Disease, Patrick Sawyerr, on
surveillance, while two persons have been
quarantined, the Minister of Health, Prof.
Onyebuchi Chukwu, has said.
He also said government had not shut its borders
for now, “except when it becomes necessary.”
According to him, the 69 persons will be under
surveillance for a period of three weeks from the
date of contact in line with the specifications of
the World Health Organisation.
The minister at a joint press briefing with the
Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, on
Thursday on the update of the virus, said Sawyerr
with dual citizenship from both Liberia and United
States, was confirmed dead barely four days after
arrival in Nigeria.
He said, “We decided on the proper manner on
how to dispose off his body because the corpse
of any victim of Ebola disease is very toxic. The
Nigerian Centre for Disease Control
decontaminated the body. We are tracking all
those who had primary contact with him. As of
today, 69 persons have been placed under
surveillance while two persons have been
quarantined.
“All those in the same aircraft to attend the
meeting with him in Calabar are presently under
surveillance. They will remain under this
surveillance until a period of three weeks from
the date of contact. We have a copy of the
passengers’ manifest and we discovered that the
sitting arrangement was free sitting. We are
working with the airlines to track down those
other passengers yet to be identified.
“As a Federal Government policy, we have not
closed our borders, unless it becomes necessary.
But the Aviation Minister is working with us in
many aspects to make sure that the virus does
not spread.”
Chukwu also stated that that the virus “can be
contacted on air even while airborne once you
contact the droplets.”
The Minister said government was engaging the
states right from the moment that the disease
was first reported in Guinea.
“Our rapid response team is in Lagos. Nigeria has
been commended by WHO. Secondary contacts
are also important. We are working with the
Cross River State government. We are not going
to quarantine them but we have demanded for
their contact details,” he stressed.
Chukwu also commended the hospital where the
patient was managed saying, “We commend them
for the great job they have done. They did
everything to keep the man alive but
unfortunately, he passed on. We have ordered the
closure of the hospital. The doctors are under
surveillance, we are using WHO certified personal
protective equipment. Doctors are at high risk but
Nigerians should not panic.”
According to him, government is pushing the
frontiers of communication “and we believe that
by this weekend subscribers of the mobile
networks will begin to receive what government
has been doing in that regard.”
He said, “We will soon convene a meeting with
airline operators, Transport Ministry, Federal Road
Safety Commission and Road Transport
Employers Association of Nigeria to see how to
manage people who travel on the West coast.
Each state government has been mandated to
expand its isolation centres beyond the ones they
had before.
“Individuals can now buy sanitizers in offices,
hotels and all public places. The idea is to reduce
the sources of contamination. If it is not
necessary to have a handshake, don’t. But where
it is necessary do.”
Meanwhile The Federal Government on Thursday
commenced workers’ sensitisation on Ebola at
the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,
and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport,
Lagos.
A statement issued by the Coordinating General
Manager, Aviation Parastatals, Mr. Yakubu Datti,
said the workers were from different agencies
operating at the two major international airports.


http://www.punchng.com/news/ebola-69-under-watch-two-isolated-says-fg/

I think I like the way this matter is being handled. Kudos

Ladystewie: I think I like the way this matter is being handled. Kudos

Yes...But we all still have to be careful.

Good job. We don't need any committee to be set up by the president...we need proactive measures and top of the world medical facilities and care for Ebola suspected and infected victims. Let's get things right in this country...