Ebola now contained – FG

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• 2 more primary contacts discharged from hospital

 Thirty-eight  days after the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) recorded its first victim with the death of visiting Liberian/American Patrick Sawyer, the Federal Government announced yesterday it has contained EVD. The authorities said the last patient’s condition was stable.A statement signed by Mr Dan Nwomeh, Special Assistant to the Health Minister, said, “as of today, August 26, 2014, Nigeria has 13 cases of EVD including the index case.

“Of these 13, five including the index case unfortunately did not survive the disease and are now late. However, seven of the infected persons were successfully managed at the isolation ward in Lagos and have been discharged.

“Two of treated patients, a male doctor and a female nurse were discharged yesterday evening, August 25, 2014 having satisfied the criteria for discharge.

“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 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,” he said.

Last week, Dr. Stella Ameyo Adadavoh, who treated Mr Sawyer when he was brought to First Consultants Hospital, Lagos, died on account of her contact with him. The Federal Government praised the late Dr Adadevoh for her patriotism and laying her life to stop Sawyer from escaping from the hospital, which could result in possible epidemic in the country.

Mr Nwomeh had on Monday said Nigeria recorded 13 confirmed cases including the index case. He said: “Total number of deaths due to EVD (including the index case) remains five.

“Total number of EVD patients treated and discharged is five. Total number of EVD patients currently under treatment in the isolation ward is now three”, he noted.

As part of measures to control the transmission of the deadly virus, the Federal Government has banned movement of corpses from states. It urged members of the public to observe hygiene by washing their hands with running water and soap. On its part, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has advised transporters nation-wide against overloading their vehicles with passengers. It advised commuters to reduce body contacts by refusing to board overloaded vehicles.

…Schools now to re-open October 13

 From IKENNA EMEWU, ABUJA Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau yesterday announced that resumption of schools nation-wide earlier scheduled for September has been postponed to October 13.

The decision was one of the measures the Federal Government has adopted to help contain the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country. The minister said in Abuja that all the schools, public and private, must remain closed until Monday, October 13.

At a press briefing after a meeting with all the 36 state Commissioners for Education and FCT, the minister said the new date became imperative to allow the Federal Government take adequate preventive measures against the spread of the disease before pupils resume.

The minister directed all state Education Ministries to immediately ensure that at least two staff in each school, both public and private, are trained by health workers on how to handle any suspected case of Ebola.

All schools, he said, must also embark on sensitization of all teaching and non-teaching staff on preventive measures and the training must be concluded not later than September 15.

Shekarau directed that each state Education Ministry should appoint a desk officer not later than September 1 who should also receive adequate training and must report daily to the Education Commissioner on the situation in the schools.

“The names of such Desk Officers, their phone numbers and e-mail addresses should be communicated to the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education not later than September 1,” he said.

The minister who also disclosed that he would meet with the commissioners on September 23 to review the situation in all states, said that all tertiary institutions are advised to suspend exchange of staff and students programs, visits and major international seminars and workshops until the situation improves.