Ebola: Avoid, bats, antelopes, monkeys, Ogun warns residents

Ogun State Government yesterday, said the two health workers who had contact with the late Liberian victims of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) have been isolated and

placed under close watch. The first victim of the  EVD in Nigeria,  a Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, died in a private hospital in Lagos and his remains were later cremated in the state.

The state Epidemiologist, Dr. Yusuph Akeem, had, during a radio programme in Abeokuta, the state capital, admitted that two suspected victims of the deadly virus had been put on surveillance in the state.

But the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, who spoke on the issue yesterday, allayed the fear of residents that the suspected victims had shown symptoms of the disease.

However, he warned residents to desist from eating antelopes, bats and monkeys that he said had been confirmed as veritable carriers of the virus.

His words:  “There are two cases of health workers, who had contact with the Liberian victim. They have been isolated and we are monitoring them.We are appealing to the residents not to panic.”

The commissioner also warned residents of the state to avoid contact with people from neighbouring countries, whom he said, had established cases. On the handling of the Ebola cases, Soyinka said health workers in all council areas and at the state level had undergone training and sensitisation on how to handle the deadly disease.

Soyinka also advised residents to observe hygienic lifestyle by ensuring that they washed their hands after each day’s activities.