The Federal Government Saturday called on Nigerians to be conscious of their hygiene following the death of Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian who was quarantined in a private medical facility in Lagos, for suspected infection of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
It is feared that all the over 200 passengers aboard the late Sawyer’s Lagos-bound airplane are exposed to the deadly virus and may continue to spread the disease if not quarantined. Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who confirmed the incident, said “all ports of entry into Nigeria, including airports, seaports and land borders, are placed on red alert. Ministry of Health specialists have been positioned in all entry points. Active surveillance has also been stepped up.”
He added: “We have already got in touch with all the passengers. We are monitoring and investigating.” Liberia’s chief medical officer identified the Ebola victim, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, as government official with the finance ministry.
He flew to Nigeria to attend an international conference and was immediately quarantined upon arrival in Lagos but died in hospital on Friday.
Ebola, one of the world’s most deadly and contagious diseases, has killed at least 660 and infected 1,093 in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and now Nigeria, according to the World Health Organisation. Federal Government disclosed that contacts have been made with the airline and passengers that travelled with the victim for proper monitoring to avoid spread of the virus.
In his confirmation, the Special Assistant to the Minister of Health on Media, Mr. Dan Nwomeh said, contrary to reports by WHO and Lagos State government that said the victim had arrived Lagos on July 18 and July 20 respectively, Prof. Chukwu confirmed that the victim actually arrived on Tuesday, July 22, on the same flight with Nigerian Ambassador to Liberia.
However, the Minister and Coordinator, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control have reassured Nigerians that the country has the capacity to control the disease.
The Ebola virus currently has no vaccine. The deadly virus, which can claim a life within two days if contracted, is believed to be transmitted by bats and primates like monkeys and chimpanzees.
The patient had “avoided contact with the general public” between the airport and the hospital, he said. The virus, which kills up to 90 percent of those infected, spreads through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids.
Patients, however, have a better chance of survival if they receive treatment early.
On Thursday, the World Health Organisation said that 219 people had died of Ebola in Sierra Leone.
