management of the Ebola Virus Disease as three fresh cases were
discovered, while four of those earlier admitted at the isolation
centre in Lagos were discharged.
Lagos State Health Commissioner, Dr. JideIdris, who confirmed the
emergence of three new cases, remarked: "As at yesterday, (Sunday), we
had three new suspected cases. One of them is a blood sample from
Kaduna State, while the two others are from Lagos and they are primary
contacts. A reason for this was that they do not have the laboratory
to test for the virus.
"What we have now is that, there are four people dead, including the
index (Mr. Patrick Sawyer). We have eight in the isolation ward before
Saturday when we released the doctor, and this doctor was released
after testing negative and going through the World Health
Organisation, WHO and Centre for Disease Control, CDC, procedures for
discharge.
Four more discharged
Four additional confirmed patients of Ebola Virus Disease have been
discharged from the isolation centre of the Mainland Hospital in
Lagos.
The discharged patients, including two male medical doctors, one
female nurse and another patient, have been managed successfully and
are now disease-free and ready to resume their normal life activities.
The development brings to five the total number of patients diagnosed
with Ebola who have now been discharged from hospital, following the
discharge of the first EVD patient over the weekend.
Announcing the development yesterday in Abuja, Minister of Health,
Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the three participated in the
treatment of the first case of Ebola in Nigeria, the late
American-Liberian, Patrick Sawyer while the fourth person was a female
patient at the time the index case was on admission.
In Lagos, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who
briefed newsmen along with the Special Adviser to the Governor on
Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, said the patients would be
released yesterday (Monday).
"We have 12 confirmed cases and that includes the index (first) case
and all the other cases that we have confirmed positive and those who
have died. And today, we have four more patients ready for discharge,
and they have gone through the same protocol -- the protocol is that
before we release anyone or certify him or her negative, he or she has
to be symptoms-free for over three days. Also, we had to test their
blood and the result proved negative of the virus.
"They will be released today (yesterday) after they have completed
their counselling exercise being conducted by our psycho-social team,
but they will come periodically for check-ups; though they are okay."
Three others in Isolation
Assuring that everything was under control, the commissioner said the
new cases were being closely monitored.
"The other three patients are still being monitored at the isolation
centre. Once they get better, they will be released too.
"The lady who ran to Enugu is still in isolation and has tested
positive to the virus. She is among the three still under isolation."
Treatment of patients
On the nature of treatment being accorded Ebola virus disease
patients, Idris explained that there was no specific treatment per se.
"We treat the patients based on the presentation. For instance, if the
patient shows symptoms of diarrhoea, he or she has to be treated with
electrolyte and others. If the person shows signs of pain, he or she
will be given pain-relieving drugs. We have enough drugs to take care
of them.
"If they require intensive care, we will do that. This is part of the
equipment that has been brought in. They will be provided with such."
More medical personnel
Giving an update on medical personnel available to care for the
patients, Idris remarked: "At the moment, we have more medical
personnel to care for the patients. We have eight doctors and nine
nurses and some health workers who have gone through the training. We
have also been joined by infectious disease experts from Lagos State
University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. All these people have gone
through the training. Though the number is not enough; we need more."
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