Just over a month after American citizen, Patrick Sawyer imported Liberia into Nigeria, the government has announced that it has contained the epidemic.
Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu disclosed to journalists in Abuja yesterday that two more cases of Ebola Virus Disease had been treated and resolved, bringing the total number of patients treated and declared Ebola free to 7.
The disease, however killed 5 Nigerians.
Chukwu said that the nation had 13 cases of EVD in addition to the index case.
“Of these 13, five including the index case unfortunately did not survive the disease and are now late.
“Two of the treated patients, a male doctor and a female nurse were discharged yesterday, both of them primary contacts of Mr. Patrick Sawyer, having satisfied the criteria for discharge.
“As I speak to you, Nigeria has only one confirmed case of EVD, a secondary contact of Mr Patrick Sawyer. This is an indication that, thus far, Nigeria has contained the disease outbreak.
“I wish to reassure Nigerians and indeed the global community that the government shall remain vigilant and will not relent as government continues to work with her partners to ensure that the disease is kept out of the country,” the Minister added.