With two more Nigerians surviving the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Nigeria now has only one recorded case of the disease in the country, according to the country’s Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu.
An elated Onyebuchi broke the news on Tuesday saying the two affected Nigerians who had been kept at the Isolation Centre have now been discharged.
With the two discharged, Nigeria now has a record of effectively treating and helping seven people to survive the disease out of the 13 people infected with the disease. Five had died of the disease at different times and this number includes Late patrick Sawyer, the Liberian who imported the disease to Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference, the minister said the remaining case was still being attended to at the Isolation Centre in Lagos.
“Today is the 38th day since the Ebola Virus Disease was imported into Nigeria by a Liberian-American. As of today, 26th August, 2014, Nigeria has had 13 cases of EVD including the index case,” Onyebuci said.
“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 home.
“Two of the treated patients, a male doctor and a female nurse were discharged yesterday evening, 25th August, 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.”
Chukwu said apart from the case imported by Sawyer which resulted in the spread, no other new case had been recorded. The remaining case is the spouse of one of medical official infected by Sawyer.
The Minister reassured Nigerians and the global community that the government would remain vigilant and would not relent.
