THE Lagos State government has revealed that two out of the 70 people that had contact with the dead Liberian Ebola victim, Mr Patrick Sawyer, has shown symptoms of fever.
The was made known by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, while addressing newsmen in Lagos, to give an update on the virus.
According to Idris, the two persons, whose names he did not disclose, were among the 70 contacts being monitored and investigated for symptoms of the disease by the state government and health partner bodies.
He, however, noted that none of the said two had tested positive to Ebola Virus, adding that the state government would continue to monitor all contacts with the victims till the 21-day incubation period of the virus expired.
“Our rapid response team is currently tracking the contacts of persons exposed to the dead passenger. The contract tracing team is following 70 contacts of the virus 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.
Also speaking, Professor Abdul Salim Nasidi, of the National Disease Control Centre urged members of the public to stop emphasising that the disease was incurable, so as not to discourage people with suspected cases from accessing treatment.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State acting Epidomologist, Dr Yusuph Akeem, on Sunday, said two suspected victims of Ebola Virus have been placed on surveillance in the state.
Yusuph said this while featuring on a radio programme on Rockcity FM “Day Break Show,” and added that the state Ministry of Health had been in possession of the names, telephone numbers and addresses of the suspected victims.
He explained that the suspected victims were residents of the state, but earn their living in Lagos State.
Also speaking, the state Director of Public Health, Dr Yusuph Qudus, said the public health officials had been colloborating with their Lagos and federal counterparts to control the spread of the disease.
Ebola: 3 Nigerian students denied visit to South Korea
Naza Okoli - Lagos
THREE Nigerian students scheduled to attend the World Congress of Global Partnership for Young Women at Duksung Women’s University, South Korea, will no longer be able to do so.
According to Korea Times, invitations issued by the university to three Nigerian students and a number of other students from other West African countries had now been cancelled, following concerns about the scourge of Ebola virus currently ravaging parts of West Africa.
The event, billed to take place from August 4 to 15, is to be hosted by the university, in partnership with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
“The school announced that it cancelled all invitations issued to three students from Nigeria. Also, students from countries in other parts of Africa will have to undergo additional health inspections before participating in the event,” the students’ union president of Duksung told Korea Times.
It was gathered that several female leaders, as well as about 500 students drawn from 32 countries (including eight African countries) are expected to attend the event.
It was also learnt that all the students invited are to be lodged in the school’s hostels.
As many as 15,000 people were reported to have signed an online petition against what was termed “dangerous invitations”.
Korean students who had applied to serve as volunteers during the conference were also reported to have cancelled their applications and joined the protest.
Not all invitations, however, were cancelled, and the event, the organisers said, will take place as scheduled.
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