The government reported a possible infection of its citizens by the virus, raising the fears that the Ebola threat is going global.
Saudi Arabia is the latest to report a possible Ebola virus infection, as it is now testing a man for suspected infection, after he returned recently from a business trip to Sierra Leone, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.
It said the man, in his 40s, was at a hospital in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, after showing “symptoms of viral hemorrhagic fever,” which resemble symptoms of the Ebola virus.
The ministry, according to Al Arabiya news said it had taken precautionary measures, including isolating the patient at a specialist hospital and had sent blood samples to an international laboratory in coordination with the World Health Organisation (WHO) for further checks.
The country has already banned pilgrims from Liberia, Sierra-Leone and Guinea from participating in this year’s pilgrimage, as a result of the outbreak of the disease in the countries.
Panic at LUTH over alleged fresh case
LAGOS State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, was, on Monday, thrown into panic, over a patient who came to the hospital bleeding through the ears, one of the symptoms of the Ebola virus infection.
According to reports, the said patient was not among the 70 contacts of Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian who died as a result of the virus.
A resident doctor at the teaching hospital, who pleaded anonymity, told the Nigerian Tribune that health workers in the hospital at the time ran away from the patient, to avoid contact with her, due to the contagious tendencies of the disease.
The patient, however, tested negative to the virus, when a laboratory test was eventually conducted on her at the hospital.
Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, LUTH Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mrs Hope Nwawolo, said the alleged new Ebola case at LUTH was false, adding that the said patient had a different health problem different from Ebola.
Omeri, Ogar, others brief press with hand gloves
IT was drama when the coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC), Mr Mike Omeri and the spokesperson of the Department of State Security (DSS), Marylin Ogar, appeared at the NIC, on Tuesday, with hand gloves.
Their action, geared towards protecting themselves from the Ebola virus, was coming a day after the Nigerian doctor contracted the virus in Lagos.
Reacting to the curiousity of the newsmen, Omeri said wearing the glove was not intended to create any panic.
He also said as the members of the NIC, it was necessary for them to create awareness and teach Nigerians the importance of taking preventive measures.
While calling on the media to join in the awareness campaign, Omeri urged Nigerians to imbibe the hand-washing culture, adding that it would help curb the spread of the virus.
Source: Tribune
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