Three new Ebola cases discovered in Kaduna, Lagos

Three fresh cases of the Ebola virus infection have been discovered in the country. One in Kaduna and additional two in Lagos.

This development is coming on the heels of the discharge of four more patients who had been undergoing treatment for the disease at the Lagos treatment centre. They were discharged after being certified free of the disease.

Jide Idris, Lagos State commissioner for health, who briefed journalists at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, in Lagos, said they have 12 confirmed cases which include the index and all the others cases that have tested positive.

The commissioner said, “As at yesterday (Sunday), we had three new suspected cases. And one of them is a blood sample from Kaduna State while the two others are from Lagos and they are primary contact.

“What we have now is that, there are four people dead, including the index (Patrick Sawyer). We had eight in the isolation ward before the Saturday when we released the doctor. And this doctor was released after testing negative and going through the World Health Organisation and Centre for Disease Control procedures for discharge.”

Idris added,” We have four more patients that are ready for discharge, and they have gone through the same protocol- the protocol is that before we release anyone or certify him or her negative, he or she has to be symptom free for over three days. Also, we had to test their blood and the result proved negative of the virus.

JOSHUA BASSEY