Nigeria now has only one confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Minister of Health Onyebuchi Chukwu said today, as he asserted that the country has brought the disease under control.
Two treated patients, a male doctor and a female nurse, were discharged on Monday evening, having satisfied the criteria for discharge, he said in a press statement signed by his spokesman, Dan Nwomeh.
Dr. Chukwu described the lone confirmed case as a secondary contact of Mr. Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American who brought the disease into Nigeria, and a spouse of one of the physicians who participated in the management of the index case.
“She is stable but still on treatment at the Isolation ward in Lagos,” the statement said.
Noting that today is the 38th day since EVD entered Nigeria through Mr. Sawyer, the Minister restated that there have so far been 13 cases of EVD, including the index case.
“Of these thirteen (13), five (5), including the index case unfortunately did not survive the disease and are now late. However, seven (7) of the infected persons were successfully managed at the Isolation ward in Lagos and have been discharged home.”
He observed that all the reported cases of the EVD in Nigeria have their root in Mr. Sawyer the index case, 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,” Dr Chukwu said.