Ebola: FG Says Number OF Confirmed Cases Are 13

The Federal Government on Monday reversed the number of confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases in Nigeria from 14 to 13.

The Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, reeled out the information at a briefing in Abuja on Monday.

This development, according to Professor Chukwu, followed the outcome of a further confirmation test conducted on the 14th case, which later turned out to be negative and was promptly discharged.

He added that another patient in the isolation centre after receiving intensive treatment had tested negative and would be discharged before Wednesday.

He said: “This will now bring to two, the number of patients in the isolation ward from the initial four”.

The Minister also clarified that the number of deaths recorded so far in the country as a result of the disease still remained five, including the Late Patrick Sawyer who imported the EVD to Nigeria from Liberia.

“We have been able to manage and discharge five persons who had tested positive to the deadly virus, while the sixth person would be discharged within the next 48 hours.

“For each case that tested negative, we run further confirmatory tests to make sure that anybody that is labelled as EVD victim, is truly having the disease,” Professor Chukwu said.

“The 14th case has turned out to be negative in terms of anaemia and symptoms, so that has now reversed number of EVD cases in Nigeria from 14 to 13 and that includes the index case (Sawyer).

“As at today, we have three patients receiving treatments in the isolation ward in Lagos but certainly, before Wednesday, one of them would be discharged because he has tested negative and we are now concluding his discharge process.”