By Becky John
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said reports in the social media that new cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) had been discovered in the state were untrue. Dr Jide Idris, the Commissioner for Health, made the clarification at a news conference in Ikeja. He said the reports were mere rumours, pointing out that no new case of Ebola had been confirmed both in the state and in the country.
“Recently, there was a rumour in the social media on the return of Ebola Virus Disease to Nigeria, killing three and infecting 12 other persons.
“According to the rumour, the deceased were returnees from Liberia and one of them was reportedly taken to an undisclosed hospital in Lagos.
“Also, it was also rumoured on twitter that two Chinese visitors from Sierra Leone have also died of EVD at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
“However, our findings reveal that these reports were completely untrue and that no new Ebola case has been confirmed in any facility in the state or in the country.
“We urge residents to ignore the rumour and not panic as the government is doing everything possible to ensure the virus does not re-enter the country, “ he said.
Idris said the state government would continue to collaborate with the Federal Government on border surveillance to check cross-border infections. The commissioner said that the government would also intensify campaigns against the EVD to keep residents safe.
He said the Ebola Treatment Unit at the Mainland Hospital had been placed on alert to respond to the need for isolation of any new case. Idris urged residents to maintain good personal hygiene and clean environment to eliminate risks of infections.
The commissioner urged residents and health professionals to report any suspicious case of the virus for speedy interventions. He said if people with symptoms like vomiting, bleeding from the ears and eyes, headache were responded to early, they could be saved from the resultant death.
