Ebola: Lagos records five new cases

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, on Wednesday said the state has recorded five new cases of the Ebola Virus Disease.
Idris, at a news conference, said the five 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.”