New Ebola case suspected as Kwara gets all-clear

A new case of Ebola infection is being suspected by the ministry of health, which said on Saturday that only 11 infections have been confirmed so far.

The health minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, said there was no fresh death recorded, apart from the four from the 11 confirmed infections.

If the latest case is confirmed, it will take the total number to 12.

Meanwhile, the person suspected to have contracted Ebola in Kwara State has been declared free of the viral disease, following the release of result of a test carried out by the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Prince Deji Oni, the special assistant on information to governor of Kwara state and member of the Kwara state committee on the prevention and control of Ebola virus, confirmed the news on Saturday.

The Kwara state government consequently pronounced the state Ebola-free but said it would continue staying on the alert to contain any possible case

“It would be recalled that the rumour mill was agog in the state some days ago about a reported case of Ebola infection in the State,” Oni said.

“As a responsible and responsive government, we swung into action by closing down the hospital where the suspected case was reported and immediately isolated the patient at the Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin, where necessary medication was administered on the child and the blood sample taken to Lagos to ascertain what the real cause of his sickness.

“The test result from LUTH has subsequently proven negative. Effectively, Kwara has no confirmed case of Ebola at the moment. However, the public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspected case to the nearest hospital while continuing to take precautions against infection.”

After the country’s first Ebola case, Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, had inaugurated a 14-man committee on the prevention and control of the virus in the state.

He also ordered the immediate procurement of laboratory equipment and reagents, which have now been stationed at the Harmony Advanced Medical Diagnostic Centre, Ilorin.

The state government also set up three isolation centres, one each in the three senatorial districts: Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin; General Hospital, Omuaran; and General Hospital, Okuta.

“We wish to assure the good people of the state that as a responsible and responsive government, we will continue to keep the populace adequately informed about efforts at keeping this dreaded virus at bay in the state,” Oni added.

The news comes on the same day it was reported that five of those currently receiving treatment for Ebola are remarkably improving.