Suspected Ebola cases cause anxiety in Lagos and Kaduna

The death of two yet-to-be identified patients who were allegedly sypmtomatic of the Ebola virus at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi- Araba, and Jibowu bus station respectively, has again given cause for concern over the spread of the virus in the state.

While the first victim died on-board a loading Kaduna-bound bus, yesterday's incident swas said to have occurred at the premises of LUTH after the said victim was rushed in by the Port Health Services.


According to reports, the deceased who died at LUTH was first rushed to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital where he was put on high index suspicion due to the symptoms he exhibited like high temperature, diarrhoea and vomiting.

Before he could be rushed to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Yaba for a blood test, he was said to have started vomiting blood and died a few hours later.

Sources said although the hospital was yet to ascertain if he had Ebola, investigations had begun.

Similarly, a suspected case of the deadly virus was been recorded in Kaduna State raising fear and anxiety among people in the state.

A law student at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU) admitted at the Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, near Zaria, was said to have shown symptoms of the disease yesterday.

The spokesman of ABUTH, Mallam Bilyaminu Umar, yesterday told newsmen that the law student from the university who was admitted at the hospital had shown symptoms similar to one infected with Ebola.

Speaking on the matter, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga, who is also the Chairman, Kaduna State Ebola Prevention and Control Committee, assured residents of the state that the situation was under control and urged them not to panic.

Bajoga said the state government had designated three Ebola quarantine and prevention centres in the three senatorial zones of the state for such emergency cases.

“We have all the equipment and the personnel and two of the sites are ready. People should not resort to undue panic, like bathing with salt, drinking salt water and chewing bitter kola. We urge all residents of the state to maintain basic hygiene habits like washing of hands before and after meals.

“People should avoid exotic wild meat for now, and cook all food properly. Even though we are yet to confirm this case, we encourage people to report any sign of a sick person that may exhibit Ebola symptoms to the nearest medical health facility in the state,” he said.