2 Persons In Contact With Lagos Ebola Victim Develop Fever

In an announcement that would send chills down the spines of many Nigerians, the Lagos State Government today (Friday) said two persons out of those who had contacts with Mr Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian who died of Ebola, had manifested symptoms of fever.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, made this known in Ikeja, Lagos, while addressing newsmen on the update of the country`s first Ebola case.

According to Idris, the two persons were among the 70 contacts being monitored and investigated for any symptoms of the disease by the state government and other partners.

Idris however stressed that they did not test positive to the virus, although they remained under close observation.

The commissioner said the state government would continue to monitor all contacts with the victims until the end of the 21-day incubation period of the virus.

“Our Rapid Response Team is currently tracking all contacts of persons exposed to the dead passenger with Ebola virus.

“The contract tracing team is following 70 contacts of the EVD case and linking them to clinical support when needed.

“Two suspect cases had fever, they are under observation and so far have tested negative to the virus.

“The monitoring of suspect cases will continue until the end of the period of 21 days from their exposure to the victim,” he said.

The commissioner said an emergency operation centre had been activated in Lagos by the state and its partners as part of efforts to check the threat of the virus.

He added that the Federal Government had stepped up measures to screen incoming passengers to Nigeria to identify any traveler with symptoms through, airport, seaport and border crossing.

Idris said a deceased body was recently brought to Nigeria from Liberia, explaining that the government was investigating if he died from Ebola.

The commissioner urged residents to collaborate with government in checking the Ebola threat in the country by reporting suspected cases for government`s intervention.

While maintaining that diseases thrived well in dirty environments ,Idris urged residents to maintain clean body and environment to reduce the risk of the virus.