Ebola: FG says deceased student free from pathogenic viruses

The Federal Government has declared the student who died of suspected fresh case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Calabar free from pathogenic viruses.

The government said this in a statement signed by Mr Linus Awute, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, in Abuja.

Awute said that all tests conducted to establish the actual cause of the student’s death proved negative to all pathogenic viruses known to man.

NAN reports that the ministry had earlier dispelled the speculation of fresh case of Ebola in Calabar, Cross River.

“Various test conducted on the deceased’s blood samples confirmed that the deceased was negative for both the Ebola Virus and Lassa Fever Virus,’’ it stated.

The ministry had also directed that the Redeemers University’s African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases at Ede, Osun, to confirm which virus caused the infection and death.
According to him, the result shows that the deceased was negative of pathogenic virus.

“The possibility of poisoning or intoxication with a chemical cannot be ruled out at this stage.

“The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) will continue with this investigation in collaboration with
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),’’ the statement added.

It stated that the ministry had directed that the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit where the patient was admitted would remain closed throughout this weekend.

“The quarantined staff have been released and directed to report twice daily for temperature monitoring and follow-ups where necessary.

“A hospital sensitisation seminar facilitated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control was conducted.
“Normal clinical services have resumed at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and the safety of this operation is guaranteed after the detailed decontamination carried out,’’ the statement read in part.

The ministry, it added, reiterated that there was no Ebola in Nigeria and the country remains Ebola free as certified by the World Health Organisation.

The permanent secretary urged Nigerians to observe personal and environmental hygiene, and keep reporting any suspected cases to the health institutions nearest to them.