•100 under surveillance in Port Harcourt
Two days after the Federal Government announced it had contained Ebola in the country, there was panic among residents of Port Harcourt yesterday over the death of Dr Iyke Enemuo through the deadly virus. He died on August 22.Confirming the death, Health Minister, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, told reporters in Abuja yesterday that somebody who had Ebola evaded surveillance in Lagos and travelled to Port Harcourt where he was treated by the deceased.
Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker also confirmed the development to newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday. While the minister said 70 people were under surveillance in Port Harcourt, the commissioner said the figure is 100.
The minister said: “This primary contact of Mr Sawyer’s evaded our surveillance team in the last week of July and travelled from Lagos to Port Harcourt where, as we now understand, he consulted with a doctor and was apparently treated for some symptoms. After four days, following a manhunt for him, he travelled to Lagos by then, he was found to be without symptoms. Though presently he does not have EVD, but further laboratory tests indicate that he had suffered EVD.
“This case would have been of no further interest since he had completed the 21 days of surveillance without any other issue, but for the fact that the doctor who treated him died last Friday, August 22, 2014. “Following the report of this death by the doctor’s widow the next day, the case had been thoroughly investigated and laboratory analysis showed that this doctor died from EVD.
“As a result, several contacts have now been traced, registered and placed under surveillance. However, because the widow is now symptomatic, she had been quarantined pending the outcome of laboratory tests on her,” Chukwu said.
The minister disclosed that the Incident Management Committee had deployed its team to Port Harcourt to work with the state government. He pleaded with residents not to panic, promising that government having ensured that EVD outbreak was well-managed in Lagos and Enugu, will do the same in Rivers State.
He said: “Just like the situation has effectively been managed in Lagos and Enugu, the situation in Port Harcourt will also be effectively managed and we have begun to do so.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Parker told journalists in Port Harcourt that Dr Enemuo, died after reportedly treating a diplomat working with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) whose identity could not be ascertained.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce to you that the Ebola virus has claimed its first victim in Rivers State. Dr. Iyke Sam Enemuo died last week Friday, August 22, 2014, as a result of what was suspected to be Ebola Virus Disease. The Rivers State Ministry of Health, on becoming aware of the conditions of his death, immediately commenced investigations and contact tracing,” Dr Parker noted.
He said about 100 persons suspected to have had contact with the late medical doctor, had been identified and monitored. “As at today, about 100 contacts from a hotel, patients of Dr Enemuo and patients of the hospital where the late Enemuo was treated until his demise, have been identified and restricted in Rivers State. The locations are being decontaminated. I had promised to be open and candid with the public on our efforts to tackle the Ebola virus.
“From our investigations, some facts have emerged. A staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the team that received the late Dr. Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American diplomat, who died of Ebola haemorrhagic disease in Lagos, made a trip to Port Harcourt, where he checked into a hotel and met with Dr Iyke Sam Enemuo.
“About a week after his departure, Dr Enemuo took ill and was rushed to a hospital, where he presented with symptoms of fever, diarrhoea and vomiting. In the course of treatment, the managing physician became suspicious and took samples for investigation. A few days after, Dr. Enemuo died on August 22, 2014. His body was deposited at a mortuary in Port Harcourt,” he said.
According to the commissioner, Enemuo’s widow, who is also a medical doctor, has taken ill and quarantined. “Dr. Iyke Enemuo’s widow, who is also a medical doctor and who cared for him during his illness has taken ill. She is being quarantined. A few hours ago, results of the test carried out on samples taken from Dr Enemuo came back and was positive of Ebola Virus Disease,
“The diplomat, who was seen by the late Dr. Enemuo, is alive and well, I urge every Rivers State citizen and residents to remain calm and go about their normal businesses. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water and avoid unnecessary body contacts till further notice.
“The Government of Rivers State is doing everything possible to contain the effects and spread of the Ebola Virus. We have all the material and human resources we need to fight and defeat the deadly virus. Officials of the Federal Ministry of Health and other international agencies are already here working with the state Ministry of Health.
“Together, I believe we can contain the Ebola virus. I shall continue to update you as more information become available”, Dr Parker assured.
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