Ebola claims first victim in Port Harcourt; ...70 persons quarantined

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Thursday confirmed the death of a medical doctor, Dr. Ike Samuel Enemua, in Port Harcourt of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Chukwu also disclosed that 70 persons have already been quarantined in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as a result of the disease.

Rivers State Government also Thursday confirmed that the state has recorded it's first casualty from the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which has hit parts of the country.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, made the confirmation in Port Harcourt while briefing journalists on the outbreak of the virus in the state.

Parker said the state Ministry of Health has placed about 100 persons who had contact with late Enemua under 24-hour surveillance for possible symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease.

He also said his ministry has shut down the late Enemua's hospital, as well as the Good Heart Hospital, a private health facility in Port Harcourt, where he was treated until his demise and a hotel, where a staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), who was treated by the late medical doctor lodged while he was in Port Harcourt.

The Health Minister had explained that the wife of the doctor was among those quarantined in P’Harcourt.

The Minister disclosed that the total number of Ebola cases so far reported stands at 15, with 13 treated cases,

He said that number of those discharged is seven, while the number of deaths from those treated in Lagos is five, while the total number of those currently under treatment is one. He added that the person currently being treated is stable and improving clinically.