The synergy that existed between the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government since the first recorded case of the Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria appeared to have been broken on Wednesday as both parties presented contrary positions on developments on the issue.
This came to the fore as the Federal Government dismissed the news by the Lagos State Government that the state had recorded five fresh cases of the EVD.
Minutes after the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, briefed the press in Lagos on Wednesday that five fresh cases were brought to the state’s hospital on Tuesday, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said it was untrue.
Chukwu said no new case had been recorded and that he had the sole authority to “announce confirmed cases of disease epidemics in Nigeria”.
Onyebuchi, speaking through his media aide, Dan Nwomeh, said Nigerians should disregard any news of fresh cases of the fast killing disease in Nigeria.
Nwomeh said Nigeria has not recorded any fresh case and that there are only two persons at the moment undergoing treatment.
He said the cases of the soldier reported in Kaduna and that of a Liberian in Lagos turned out negative.
Nwomeh said on his Twitter handle: “Minister of Health of Nigeria confirms that there’s no new case of Ebola in Nigeria.
“Please disregard the rumours in social media.
“Reported case in Kaduna was a Nigerian soldier who returned from Sierra Leone, fell ill and was diagnosed for Ebola.
“Result was negative.
“Minister of Health has also clarified the stories of a another Liberian who tested negative for Ebola in Nigeria.
“The Liberian was actually leaving Nigeria, was spotted by port health officials due to his high temperature.
“His sample was tested and result for Ebola was negative but positive for malaria.
“Was treated and allowed to continue his journey.”
“On Lagos TV this morning (Wednesday) an Ebola “expert”, a resident doctor, claimed those confirmed Ebola free and discharged can still infect others.
“This was on a talk show of a Lagos based TV station please.
“Again, the Minister of Health says there is no evidence that discharged patients can transmit the disease.
“At the strategy group meeting of the EOC yesterday all partners agreed that even transmission via semen has never been recorded as a case.
“Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, restates that at present, today, now, Nigeria has only two confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease.
“This clarification follows reports of five new cases in Lagos State.
“This should be disregarded please.
“Any doubtful information on the outbreak of EVD should be verified from the office of the Minister of Health.
“The Minister of Health reiterates that he has the sole authority to announce confirmed cases of disease epidemics in Nigeria.
“The minister reassures Nigerians that any new confirmed case of EVD in Nigeria will be announced by his office promptly.”
Idris had at a news conference earlier on Wednesday said five new cases were brought to the Yaba Mainland Hospital in the state on Tuesday.
He said two of the cases were from secondary contacts.
Idris said: “Till date, we have recorded eight suspected cases, five of which came in yesterday, 12 confirmed.
“On the whole, five have died, including the index case.
“We are currently following up 213 contacts and 62 have completed the two-day follow-up.”
Idris, at the conference, eulogised the late senior doctor of First Consultant Hospital, Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, who prevented the index case, the late Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer, from leaving the hospital after he was diagnosed of the EVD.
He said: “She, it was, who took the initiative to intimate the Ministry concerning the index case – Liberian-American (Mr. Patrick Sawyer) and substantially to her credit the moderate containment achieved is owed.
“She led the team who attended to the index case.
“Her doggedness and commitment to duty saw her personally reviewing the case even though the patient had earlier been seen by a doctor.
“The Ministry of Health commiserates with their families, co-workers, friends and loved ones on these irreparable loss, which was in the line of duty.
“The mode of spread remains mainly transmission from an infected person in an infective state and from an infected animal (bat, monkey, etc) to a person.
“This is a call for vigilance as human to human transmission is only achieved by physical contact with a person who is acutely and gravely ill (fever being a key sign) from Ebola virus through body fluids such as blood, urine, stool, saliva, breast milk, semen and vomitus.
“Burial ceremonies where mourners, including family members, have direct contact with patients who died of Ebola, have also played a role in the spread and direct contact with dead bodies should be minimized at this period, even as washing and burial/disposal of such bodies should be professionally handled with safety to personal health of handlers being a cardinal focus.
“Certain concerns have been raised regarding those already discharged.
“I wish to re-assure you that the discharge process was in line with WHO International Health Regulations and they are still being followed up….
“I encourage persons who have come in contact with infected persons to report early for treatment as such improves chances of survival.”
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