BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME
PORT HARCOURT: RIVERS state government has
confirmed the death of a medical doctor from
Ebola virus.
Commissioner of Health, Dr Sampson Parker
who broke the news Thursday in Port Harcourt
said the late Dr Iyke Sam Enemuo died Friday
last week from suspected Ebola virus, adding
that a test on his corpse released yesterday
confirmed that the deceased died from the
virus.
He said the late Enemuo met a staff of Economic
Community of West African states, Ecowas at a
hotel in Port Harcourt, noting that the ECOWAS
staff was on the team of those that received the
index case, late Patrick. According to the
Commissioner of Health, one week after the
ECOWAS staff left Port Harcourt the late Dr
Enemuo took ill and was admitted in a hospital.
The Commissioner, Dr Parker said the wife of
late Dr Enemuo who is also a doctor had fallen
sick and had been quarantined, adding that about
100 persons who had primary or secondary
contact with the late Dr Enemuo had been
placed on watchlist.
While appealing to residents of the state not to
panic the Commissioner, Dr Parkar said adequate
measures were in place to check the spread of
the disease.
His words,: “My friends, brothers and sisters.
The Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike
Rotimi Amaechi has directed me to make this
solemn announcement to you.
And it is with a heavy heart that I announce to
you that the ebola virus has claimed its first
victim in Rivers State. Dr. Iyke Sam Enemuo died
last week Friday, August 22, 2014 as a result of
what was suspected to be ebola virus disease.
The Rivers State Ministry of Health on becoming
aware of the conditions of his death,
immediately commenced investigations and
contact tracing.
As at today, about one hundred contacts from a
hotel, patients of Dr. Enemuo and patients of
the hospital where the late Enemuo was treated
until his demise have been identified and
restricted in Rivers State.
The locations are being decontaminated. I had
promised to be open and candid with the public
on our efforts to tackle the ebola virus.
From our investigations some facts have
emerged. A staff of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) on the team that
received late Dr. Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian
American diplomat who died of ebola
haemorrhagic disease in Lagos, Nigeria made a
trip to Port Harcourt where he checked into a
hotel and met with Dr. Iyke Sam Enemuo.
About a week after his departure, Dr. Iyke
Enemuo took ill and was rushed to a hospital
where he presented with symptoms of fever,
diarrhea and vomiting.
In the course of treatment, the managing
physician became suspicious and took samples
for investigation. A few days after, Dr. Iyke
Enemuo died on August 22, 2014. His body was
deposited at a mortuary in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Iyke Enemuo’s widow, who is also a medical
doctor and who cared for him during his illness
has taken ill. She is being quarantined.
A few hours ago, results of the test carried out
on samples taken from Dr. Enemuo came back
and was positive of Ebola Viral disease.
The diplomat who was seen by late Dr. Iyke
Enemuo is alive and well. I urge every Rivers
State citizen and resident to remain calm and go
about their normal businesses. Wash your hands
regularly with soap and water and avoid
unnecessary body contacts till further notice.
The Government of Rivers State is doing
everything possible to contain the effects and
spread of the ebola virus. We have all the
material and human resources we need to fight
and defeat the deadly virus.
Officials of the Federal Ministry of Health and
other international agencies are already here
working with the state ministry of health.
Together, I believe we can contain the ebola
virus.
I shall continue to update you as more
information become available. Thank you, stay
safe and God bless.”
source: www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/rivers-confirms-one-case-ebola-death-ph/

Haba! didn't they bath with hot water garnished with salt?