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| Stop Ebola campaign |
One year after Nigeria got certified
free of the highly-contagious Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), there are fears that
the virus has resurfaced in the country. Already, 15 persons have
been quarantined at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital in Cross River
state.
Queeneth
Kalu, chairperson of the hospital’s medical advisory committee, told reporters
on Thursday that blood samples of those in quarantine had been sent to Edo
state for analysis.
Kalu
said a patient of the hospital died after showing symptoms similar to hemorrhagic
fever.
“On
Wednesday, 7th October, 2015, we managed a patient who presented with symptoms
mimicking viral hemorrhage (Ebola Virus) and have decided to take the necessary
measures,” she said.
TheCable report continues:
“Due
to the remote chance of it being contagious, we have sent the blood samples for
testing and quarantined identified contacts.
“The
National Centre for Disease Control, the ministry of health, the state
government and the Department of State Services, have all been informed.
“Further
information will be made available as soon as we receive the results of the
samples sent for analysis.”
Tope
Richards, a resident of Calabar north, told TheCable that only few persons in
town are aware of the situation.
“We
are trying to be very careful. This kind of thing has never happened in this
city,” she said.
“I
wouldn’t have been aware of this situation if not that I went to the teaching
hospital yesterday. Even some people there are not aware. We are in the hands
of God. I really don’t know what to say.”
The
development comes at a time when the World Health Organization (WHO)
announced significant progress in the fight to stamp out EVD.
Earlier on Thursday,
Margaret Harris, WHO press officer, said for the first time since 2014, no new
case of the virus had been recorded this week.
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