The Lagos State Government on Monday called on Nigerians to be calm and not panic, assuring them that both the State and Federal Governments are well prepared to ensure that the Ebola Virus Disease does not spread and that no Nigerian is infected with the virus.
Addressing a joint Ministerial press briefing of the Lagos State Ministry of Health and Federal Ministry of Health on development concerning the disease, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, affirmed that there has only been one case of imported Ebola resulting in the death of a Liberian diplomat in Lagos.
Idris added that health authorities were being very proactive about the detection of the Ebola Virus in the Liberian, who was on his way to Calabar, Cross River State for a conference by ensuring that all contacts are being actively followed.
Idris said part of the measures taken after the death of the Liberian was the demobilisation of the private hospital where he was admitted and elimination of primary source of infection, adding that the decontamination process in all affected areas has commenced.
He added that the corpse of the victim has since been cremated and the ash is awaiting further directives from the Liberian Embassy.
He commended the role of the management of the hospital and their ability to detect a high-risk patient within 24 hours.
He said: “Adhering strictly to WHO guidelines, the body of the deceased patient was decontaminated using 10 per cent sodium hypochlorite and cremated, with the permission of the government of Liberia.
“A cremation urn has been prepared for dispatch to the family.
“The vehicle that conveyed the remains was also fully decontaminated.”
