The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, had what appears to be good news for Nigerians: There is only one Ebola Virus Disease patient in isolation now.
This followed the release from isolation of two of the three patients in isolation on Monday.
Chukwu had on Monday through his media aide, said one of the patients would be released on Wednesday.
Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, Chukwu said it coincided with the 38th day since the Ebola Virus Disease was imported into Nigeria by a Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer.
He said as of Tuesday, Nigeria has had 13 cases of EVD, including the index case.
Out of the 13, five, including Sawyer, lost their lives.
Seven of the infected persons were successfully managed at the Isolation ward in Lagos State and have been discharged to go home, Chukwu said.
He said the two persons discharged on Monday were a male doctor and a female nurse.
He said they had satisfied the criteria for discharge.
Chukwu added: “As I speak to you, Nigeria has only one confirmed case of EVD, a secondary contact of Mr. Patrick Sawyer’s and 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.
“So far, all the reported cases of the EVD in Nigeria have their root in the index case, the late Mr. Patrick Sawyer.
“This is 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.”
Answering questions from newsmen, Chukwu refuted the report that a sister of late Dr. Stella Adadevoh had died as a result of contracting the EVD.