2 People Quarantined and 69 People Under Surveillance Againt Ebola Virus In Nigeria

The Federal Government has placed 69 persons,
who had first contact with the Liberian-born
victim of Ebola Virus, Patrick Sawyerr,
on
surveillance, while two persons have been
quarantined (isolated), the Minister of Health,
Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has said.
Sawyer died in a Lagos hospital on Friday last
week.
Chukwu debunked reports that the government
had closed its borders, saying such move might
not be taken “except when it becomes
necessary.”
According to him, those who came in contact
with the late sawyer will be under surveillance
for a period of weeks from the date of contact
in line with the specifications of the World
Health Organisation .
The Minister at a joint press briefing with the
Minister of Information , Mr. Labaran Maku,on
Thursdayon the update of the virus, said the
Liberian victim, with dual citizenship of Liberia
and the United States, was confirmed dead
barely four days after arrival in Nigeria.
He said, “We decided on the proper manner on
how to dispose his body because the corpse of
any victim of Ebola disease is very toxic.
The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control
decontaminated the body. We are tracking all
those, who had primary contact with him.
As of today, 69 persons have been placed under
surveillance while two persons have been
quarantined.
“All those in the same aircraft going to attend
the meeting with him in Calabar are presently
under surveillance.
They will remain under this surveillance until a
period of three weeks from the date of contact.
“We have a copy of the passengers’ manifest
and we discovered that the sitting arrangement
was free sitting. We are working with the
airlines to track down those other passengers
yet to be identified.
“As a Federal Government policy, we have not
closed our borders, unless it becomes
necessary. But the Aviation Minister is working
with us in many aspects to make sure that the
virus does not spread.”
Chukwu stated that contrary to some views, the
disease “can be contacted on air even while
airborne once you contact the droplets.”
The minister said government was engaging the
states right from the moment that the disease
was first reported in Guinea.
He added, “Our rapid response team are in
Lagos. Nigeria has been commended by WHO.
Secondary contacts are also important.
We are working with the Cross River State
Government. We are not going to quarantine
them but we have demanded their contact
details.”
Chukwu commended the hospital, where the
patient was managed, saying, “We commend
them for the great job they have done.
They did everything to keep the man alive but
unfortunately, he passed on.
We have ordered the closure of the hospital.
The doctors are under surveillance; we are using
WHO certified personal protective equipment.
“Doctors are at high risk but Nigerians should
not panic.”