TheCable

Minister of health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, says there is a possibility of recording fresh cases of Ebola in the country, as some of those who had contacts with Mr. Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American who brought the disease into Nigeria, are still under investigation.

The minister, who spoke through Dan Nwomeh, his special assistant on media and communication, commended the medical personnel who have been handling the situation in the country, assuring that the government will ensure that the virus does not get out of control.

“A good number of secondary contacts are yet to complete the 21-day incubation period, the possibility of two or three more cases could not be entirely ruled out,” he said.

“The health workers, who have been managing patients of the EVD deserve commendation for their courage, compassion and sacrifice,” he said.

Chukwu showered encomiums on Dr. Stella Adadevoh, adding that the government will immortalise her.

“Dr. Adadevoh took the brunt of physically blocking the patient from running away from the First Consultants Hospital … I am confident that she will be honoured by Nigeria,” he said.

Adadevoh contracted the disease while attending to Sawyer at the First Consultant hospital in Obalende, Lagos.

Nigeria has recorded the least case of Ebola virus among three other West African countries affected by the disease.

While 189 people have been quarantined and 12 confirmed to have the disease, five persons including Sawyer have died of Ebola and 61 people out of the 189 have been discharged after proving negative to EVD at the end of the 21-day incubation period.