discharged of Ebola virus to avoid sexual intercourse for at least
seven weeks.
Dr Bridget Okoeguale, Director, Department of Public Health, gave the
advice during interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja
on Wednesday.
Okoeguale said this was in line with protocols issued by the World
Health Organisation (WHO).
"There are many literatures that say that after men are infected, when
the virus is not found in the blood, it tends to stay in the semen for
about seven weeks to three months.
"What we did according to the WHO protocol is that we made sure that
when the men are discharged they are given enough condoms, if they
cannot abstain for that period.
"We advise them to abstain from sex but where they cannot abstain,
they are provided condoms and after the (abstinence) period, we double
test to make sure they are free'', she said.
On the treatment of Ebola patients, Okoeguale said no drugs or
vaccinations were given to them, adding that health authorities had
complied with WHO treatment protocol.
Okoeguale said everybody had his/her own body reaction, "so our own is
to help build their immunity, give them fluid to replace lost fluid
through vomiting and diarrhoea.''
She explained that the patients were also placed on electrolyte by
intravenous fluid to avoid dehydration, adding that those who were
anaemic had blood transfusion.
"That is the supportive care that has helped us to be able to
discharge more than five people'', Okoeguale said.
The director also advised the general public to avoid crowded social gathering.
" We are not advising people not to go to club or bar but if you have
to just remember that you must keep your hands clean, avoid contact
with as many people as possible.''
She urged Nigerians not to consider the disease as a death sentence
and that recent cases had shown survival rates for patients were high
with early detection and treatment.
(NAN)
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