Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), says two suspected cases of Ebola disease have been identified in Nigeria’s North-East region.
NCDC said both individuals have been identified and isolated as health authorities conduct investigations and laboratory tests.
An update on the disease situation released in Saturday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), said contact identification and listing were ongoing, while samples from the suspected cases were being subjected to laboratory testing.
It clarified that the classification of the individuals as suspected cases did not mean they had tested positive for Ebola, noting that confirmation would depend on laboratory results.
The public was advised to maintain proper hand hygiene, practise enhanced sanitation and follow preventive guidance issued by public health authorities.
The update added that further information would be provided as verified details become available.
Recall that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said Nigeria must complete a 42-day monitoring period before it can officially be declared free of Ebola after a case was confirmed.
WHO Health Emergencies Programme Executive Director, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the 53 identified contacts of the infected patient must be monitored for 21 days, followed by another 21-day period as required by established protocols.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, said Nigeria currently had no active Ebola cases after the infected patient and her husband were medically evacuated to Switzerland.
“The Nigerian medical team successfully managed her through the acute phase of the illness and stabilised her condition,” Janabi said.
He added : “With the evacuation of the patient and her husband, Nigeria currently has no Ebola cases.”
However, Ihekweazu said the monitoring period must be completed before Nigeria can be declared Ebola-free.
“What it means still is that we have about 53 people, contacts, individuals with whom that individual had contact over the days that she was ill.
“And now we have to continue to follow each of them for 21 days and then require another 21 days, coming up to 42, in order to declare Nigeria Ebola-free,” he said.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
