Ikeja – The Lagos State Government on Friday said two persons out of
those who had contacts with Mr Patrick Sawyer, the dead Liberian Ebola
victim had manifested symptoms of fever.
The Commissioner for Health,
Dr Jide Idris, made the disclosure when he addressed newsmen on the
update of the country`s first Ebola case in Ikeja.
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.
Idris
said the state government would continue to monitor all contacts with
the victims 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 contract 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,’’ he said.
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 to identify any
traveler with symptoms through, airport, seaport and border crossing.
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 case for
government`s intervention.
While saying diseases thrived well in
dirty environments ,Idris urged residents to maintain clean body and
environment to reduce the risk of the virus.
Also speaking. Prof.
Abdul Salim Nasidi of the National Disease Control Centre said noted
that though disease had 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.
While
saying the Federal Government was doing everything to check the threat
of the disease,Nasidi urged citizens not to panic as no fresh case had
been discovered yet in the country.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/ebola-lagos-govt-confirms-2-contact-dead-victim-fever/
