Ebola: Delta isolates seven hospitals to checkmate outbreak

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has urged the people of the state not to panic about the threat posed by the fast killing Ebola virus.

The governor also set up a committee to educate and sensitize residents of the state on the prevention and management of the killer virus.

Uduaghan said every measure has been put in place to checkmate its possible outbreak in the state, revealing that seven hospitals have been isolated to handle any suspected outbreak.

Uduaghan, a Medical Doctor, said no identified case of the Ebola disease exists in the state at present.

He said that seven hospitals have been designated as isolation centres to handle any suspected case.

Speaking during a Peoples Democratic Party stakeholders’ meeting for Delta North Senatorial District in Asaba, the governor said that the committee, which comprised the Commissioners of Health, Information and Environment, would brief Deltans on the measures already taken to ensure that the virus does not enter the state.

He said: “There is no Ebola virus in Delta State and it will not come to the state.

“We are doing everything possible to deal with the scourge.

“We have set up an inter-ministerial committee comprising the Commissioners for Health, Environment and Information to sensitise and brief Deltans on the measures in place to tackle any outbreak in the state.

“We have designated seven hospitals in the state as isolation centres where any suspected cases will be managed.

“Also every local government area has a contact person and there is a contact phone number – 32815 – where text messages (SMS) can be sent to report any suspected case.”

While calling on the people of the state not to panic as measures were in place to tackle any likely outbreak, Dr. Uduaghan said: “We require the cooperation of all Deltans to stop any outbreak in the state.

“We need to up our personal hygiene, wash our hands regularly and use hand sanitizers.

“Those of you with relatives in any of the West African countries where there is an outbreak of Ebola virus who need to bring in any corpse from there should let us know so that we can ascertain the cause of death.”