Lagos State Government Insists that Ebola Victim is Not Dead
Senior Officials of the Lagos State Government have insisted that the female medical doctor who tested positive to the Ebola Virus Disease is not dead as being rumoured.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who confirmed this today during a press briefing to intimate the media on updates on the disease at Alausa, Ikeja noted that the female medical doctor who attended to the index case of Ebola Virus Disease at a private hospital in Lagos is the only confirmed case to date out of the eight primary contact under clinical surveillance and care.
"Her being infected is largely due to the fact that she was a primary contact when the index case presented. At that point in time, the disease was not known to have been imported into the country", Idris explained.
He stated that the essence of the briefing is to highlight the mode of transmission of Ebola Virus Disease stressing that the disease is transmissible through direct contact with broken skin, mucous membranes and secretions of an infected persons or through direct contact with materials and surfaces that have been contaminated by an infected person.
"This is a call for vigilance as human to human transmission is only achieved by physical contact with a person who is acutely and gravely ill from Ebola virus through body fluids such as blood, urine, stool, saliva, breast milk and semen. Burial ceremonies where mourners including family members have direct contact with patients who died of Ebola have also played a role in the spread of the disease", Idris said.
The Commissioner noted that in Africa, infection has also occurred through the handling of infected chimpanzees, monkeys, gorillas, fruit bats, antelopes and porcupine adding that there has been no case of transmission by domestic animals like pigs.
He urged everyone to be vigilant especially with regard to relating with people who are ill stressing that there is no cause for panic as long as basic precautionary measures such as hand washing, adoption of appropriate waste management and enhanced personal and environmental hygiene are adhered to.
Idris opined that precautionary measures such as hand washing, adoption of appropriate waste management and enhanced personal and environmental hygiene is relevant especially when large congregations are expected with a mix of people from other part of the world. He commended the responsiveness and cooperation received from the Redeemed Christian Church of God in this regard during the church’s on-going convention.
While appreciating various health workers who have selflessly committed to this cause of preventing the spread of the virus in the areas of contact tracing, case management, decontamination, the Commissioner appealed to other health workers like doctors, nurses, environmental health workers and phlebotomists to complement the State health workforce.
He appealed to striking doctors to return to work and urged other health workers to sheath their swords and embrace team work in the drive to stem the spread of the disease in the State.
"We also count on the cooperation of the good people of Lagos State as your government, in partnership with the Federal government may need in the course of taking decisions in the overriding interest of the public, institute measures that may be considered inconvenient to some people", Idris said.
He explained relevant digital platforms have been set up for ease of reference, information and communication flow. These platforms are, Help line: 0800 EBOLA HELP(0800326524357); Website: www.ebolaalert.org; Facebook: fb.com/ebolaalert; and Twitter: @ebolaalert.
Also present at the briefing is the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba and his Special Duties counterpart, Dr. Wale Ahmed.
Source: Lagos State Government
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| Health officials wait to screen passengers at the arrival hall of Lagos airport. Photograph: AP |
"Her being infected is largely due to the fact that she was a primary contact when the index case presented. At that point in time, the disease was not known to have been imported into the country", Idris explained.
He stated that the essence of the briefing is to highlight the mode of transmission of Ebola Virus Disease stressing that the disease is transmissible through direct contact with broken skin, mucous membranes and secretions of an infected persons or through direct contact with materials and surfaces that have been contaminated by an infected person.
"This is a call for vigilance as human to human transmission is only achieved by physical contact with a person who is acutely and gravely ill from Ebola virus through body fluids such as blood, urine, stool, saliva, breast milk and semen. Burial ceremonies where mourners including family members have direct contact with patients who died of Ebola have also played a role in the spread of the disease", Idris said.
The Commissioner noted that in Africa, infection has also occurred through the handling of infected chimpanzees, monkeys, gorillas, fruit bats, antelopes and porcupine adding that there has been no case of transmission by domestic animals like pigs.
He urged everyone to be vigilant especially with regard to relating with people who are ill stressing that there is no cause for panic as long as basic precautionary measures such as hand washing, adoption of appropriate waste management and enhanced personal and environmental hygiene are adhered to.
Idris opined that precautionary measures such as hand washing, adoption of appropriate waste management and enhanced personal and environmental hygiene is relevant especially when large congregations are expected with a mix of people from other part of the world. He commended the responsiveness and cooperation received from the Redeemed Christian Church of God in this regard during the church’s on-going convention.
While appreciating various health workers who have selflessly committed to this cause of preventing the spread of the virus in the areas of contact tracing, case management, decontamination, the Commissioner appealed to other health workers like doctors, nurses, environmental health workers and phlebotomists to complement the State health workforce.
He appealed to striking doctors to return to work and urged other health workers to sheath their swords and embrace team work in the drive to stem the spread of the disease in the State.
"We also count on the cooperation of the good people of Lagos State as your government, in partnership with the Federal government may need in the course of taking decisions in the overriding interest of the public, institute measures that may be considered inconvenient to some people", Idris said.
He explained relevant digital platforms have been set up for ease of reference, information and communication flow. These platforms are, Help line: 0800 EBOLA HELP(0800326524357); Website: www.ebolaalert.org; Facebook: fb.com/ebolaalert; and Twitter: @ebolaalert.
Also present at the briefing is the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba and his Special Duties counterpart, Dr. Wale Ahmed.
Source: Lagos State Government
Lagos State Government Insists that Ebola Victim is Not Dead
Reviewed by Msl
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Reviewed by Msl
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5:58 pm
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One has to commend Lagos State Government for their efforts. I have no doubt that they will contain the virus.
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