Nigeria minister of health, Professor Enyebuchi Chukwu has acknowledged that a case of Ebola Virus Disease is being investigated in Zaria, Kaduna state but that it is not likely to be Ebola disease.
Feilding questions from newsmen at the Presidential Villa, Abuja today, Professor Chukwu expressed optimism that the case would turn out to be negative.
He was not comfortable with the way some media organizations gave emphasis to the case, which affected an under-graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also debunked rumours that Ebola disease has broken out in Enugu, Calabar, Edo state and even Kaduna and Abuja.
The minister also described as pure falsehood, the report that has been making the rounds that 60 Ebola patients have escaped from Port Harcourt.
Professor Chukwu appealed to Journalists to stop spreading rumours or helping unauthorized people from spreading rumours which he said are as dangerous as Ebola disease itself.
He made it clear that it is only him that has the authority to speak on and declare any new case from anywhere in the country to the public.
The minister said that as at now, there are only two cases of Ebola patients, one in Lagos and the other in Port Harcourt, even as he said that the husband of the second nurse who died recently of the disease in Lagos has been confirmed negative and discharged from the observation centre.
“The person who took Ebola to Enugu is now healthy and has rejoined his family. For the avoidance of doubt, as I speak to you now, there is no case of Ebola in Calabar, Edo state, Delta state and Zaria, Kaduna state.
“But we are investigating the case that was reported in Zaria. He has been quarantined and his blood is being examined. The result will be ready and available to the public today. It is not likely to be Ebola.”
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