The Lagos State Government on Thursday evening confirmed the presence of the Ebola Virus in the state, following the admission of a Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, at a private hospital in the Obalende area of the state.
However, Mr. Sawyer’s death was confirmed on Friday afternoon, although a medical source who spoke with SaharaReporters under condition of anonymity said the death occurred on Thursday night.
Sawyer came into Nigeria on Sunday from Liberia, where Ebola cases have recently been on the rise.
Sierra Leone and Guinea are other countries in the West Africa sub-region with high cases of Ebola infections.
The World Health Organisation said earlier in the month that 888 Ebola cases had been reported in West Africa since February, and 539 of those have died.
Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Public Health Dr. Yewande Adeshina, who confirmed the presence of the virus in the state, assured the public that government had taken adequate measures to prevent its spread.
She said the Liberian, 40, was receiving treatment at First Consultant Medical Centre, Obalende, Lagos, and the hospital had been cordoned off.
But the source who informed SaharaReporters of Sawyer’s death said it was unclear if the Liberian was the only one infected or if his was just the only known case.
“The Liberian whose Ebola infection went public on Thursday has died," he said.
“However, no one can say yet if anyone else is infected. That we know of Sawyer’s case does not mean that there are no other cases, we just don't know."
Ebola is a very deadly virus that manifests and can kill within two weeks of infection. Experts say 90 percent of Ebola patients die of the disease.