15 persons confirmed to have had contacts with a patient with “symptoms of mimicking viral hemorrhagic fever” have been quarantined, the authorities of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital have said
This action followed the death of a patient, a man, died at about 2p.m. on Wednesday.
The general apprehension within and outside the hospital was that the deceased had presented symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease.
As a result, the Accident and Emergency ward of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital was shut.
In a quick reaction, the federal government dispatched a team of medical personnel to Calabar to ascertain the suspicion of Ebola threat.
The Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital, Dr. Queeneth Kalu, who represented the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UCTH, Dr. Thomas Agan, while briefing journalists on Thursday, gave the number of persons that were quarantined in the hospital. at 15. Though the CMD did not mention their identities, sources said the health personnel that had contact with the deceased were among those quarantined.
Kalu said, “I mentioned that in my statement, the number of people; 15 people.”
But the National Emergency Management Agency in a tweet Thursday gave the number of the cases quarantined as 10.
Before responding to questions, Kalu read a statement, saying that samples of the blood of the deceased had been sent for analysis while necessary medical and bodies in the country, and security agents had been contacted.
The statement read in part: “On Wednesday, of October 7, 2015, we managed a patient who presented symptoms mimicking viral hemorrhagic fever.
“Due to the remote chance of it being contagious, we have sent blood samples for testing and quarantined identified contacts.
“The following have been informed; National Centre for Disease Control, Federal Ministry of Health, the Cross River State Government, Calabar Municipality, Department of State Security (DSS).
“Further information will be made available as soon as we receive the result of the sample sent for analysis.”
The accident and emergency ward which was closed since Wednesday remained locked due to fears that trailed symptoms presented by the deceased.
The deceased whose identity could not be ascertained, was said to have been taken to the UCTH from Akpabuyo Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday with very high body temperature.
Sources further disclosed that the patient was vomiting, stooling, and bleeding from the nose before he died.
According to the Director of the National Centre for Disease control (NCDC) Prof. Abdulsalam Nasidi, the government is awaiting the result of the laboratory investigation but it believed the patient died of hemorrhagic fever.
Nasidi also assured Nigerians that there was nothing to fear as measures have been taken to protect the people and including those who might have had contact with the patient
The state government said it was awaiting results of blood samples of the patient, who died with symptoms of viral haemorrhagic fever.
Dr Sunday Omini, Director of Public Health in the state Ministry of Health, said: “We are aware of the situation and we have got preliminary reports from the hospital, and we are all awaiting the result of the blood samples.
“But, judging from the information I have received so far, I am 90 per cent sure that it is not Ebola.
“‘However, we are on top of the situation; there is no cause for alarm,’’ he said.
The management of UCTH said it had informed the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and the state government about the development.
A statement by Dr Queenet Kalu, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAG), on behalf of the Medical Director of the hospital, said the public would be informed as soon as results of the blood samples are released, adding that the hospital management had quarantined those identified to have had contacts with the patient.
“Further information will be made available as soon as we receive the results of the samples sent for analysis,’’ the statement said.
Nigeria had its first dose of Ebola disease on July 20, 2014 when Liberian Patrick Sawyer, sneaked into the country after been afflicted with the deadly disease. But the country’s medical team rose up to the occasion to curtail its spread with minimal casualty.
