The ministry encouraged the public to only heed updates from its office, despite the contradicting news put out today by Lagos State health officials.
Following reports from the Lagos State Commissioner of Health, Jide Idris, that five new cases were of Ebola were confirmed in Nigeria, the Ministry of Health has issued a counter-statement, claiming that that report was inaccurate. A spokesman for the ministry says that there are only two confirmed cases of the virus, and any other developments will be made when as they come in. The ministry encouraged the public to only heed updates from its office, despite the contradicting news put out today by Lagos State health officials.
Read the full release below.
PRESS STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH:
STATUS UPDATE: No New Confirmed Case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria
The Honourable Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, wishes to reiterate that at present, Nigeria has only two confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease.
This clarification follows media reports of five new cases in Lagos State. This report should be disregarded.
The minister reiterates that any doubtful information on the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria should be verified from the Office of the Honourable Minister of Health who has the sole authority to announce confirmed cases as far as disease epidemics in Nigeria are concerned.
The minister further reassures the public that any new confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease will be announced by his office promptly.
However, as of 7pm today, there is no other confirmed Ebola Virus Disease case in Nigeria outside the two that are currently under treatment at the isolation ward in Lagos.
Dan Nwomeh
Special Assistant on Media and Communication to the Minister of Health