ABUJA – The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, on Friday confirmed two new cases of Ebola Virus Disease, bringing the total number of cases recorded in the country to 14.
Chukwu said at news briefing in Abuja that the two cases were the spouses of the two deceased primary contacts of the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer, who brought Ebola to Nigeria.
The minister said that they were among the secondary contacts that had been under surveillance.
He said the new cases had now brought the number of Ebola virus disease patients currently under treatment at the isolation ward to four.
“This also means that the total number of cases of Ebola virus disease so far reported in the country is 14.
“The number of deaths still remain five, while the number of those successfully managed and discharged also stand at five,’’ he said.
The minister said that 213 people were presently under surveillance, saying that there would continue to be contact tracing in order to curtail the spread of the virus.
[eap_ad_2]
He said the Federal Government together with the Lagos State government and other partners would continue to maintain vigilance and strengthen the containment activities.
Chukwu reassured Nigerians and the global community that efforts would not relent to curtail Ebola virus disease in Nigeria.
He expressed gratitude to Nigerians, who had made contributory efforts to the fight against the virus, assuring them that the ministry would not disappoint the nation.
The minister, who spoke on the treatment administered on discharged patients, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline was applied in treating the discharged patients.
According to the WHO guideline, severely ill patients require intensive supportive care; patients are frequently dehydrated and require oral rehydration with solutions containing electrolytes or intravenous fluids.
The WHO said that between Aug. 14 and Aug. 16 a total of 113 new cases of Ebola virus disease as well as 84 deaths were reported from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. (NAN)
[eap_ad_3]