In an announcement that would send chills down the spines of many
Nigerians, the Lagos State Government today (Friday) said two persons
out of those who had contacts with Mr Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian who
died of Ebola, had manifested symptoms of fever.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, made this known in Ikeja,
Lagos, while addressing newsmen on the update of the country`s first
Ebola case.
According to Idris, 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.
Idris however stressed that they did not test positive to the virus,
although they remained under close observation.
The commissioner said the state government would continue to monitor
all contacts with the victims until the end of the 21-day incubation
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 the
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 cases
for government`s intervention.
While maintaining that diseases thrived well in dirty environments
,Idris urged residents to maintain clean body and environment to
reduce the risk of the virus.
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