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Nigeria’s Health Minister Says Ebola Cases Now 13 — Not 14

August 25, 2014

Three days after announcing that a total of 14 people in Nigeria had contracted the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Minister of Health Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu has revealed that one of the cases was adjudged to be positive in error.

"The total number of confirmed cases, including the index case, is now 13 [because] the 14th case, initially announced as positive, turned out to be a false positive,” Chukwu said on Monday.

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Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu

“The total number of deaths due to EVD (including the index case) remains 5. Total number of EVD patients treated and discharged is 5."

He added that while the total number of EVD patients currently under treatment in the isolation ward is now 3, one of the 3 persons currently under treatment is due for “imminent discharge after necessary protocols."