WHO: Nigeria not Ebola-free until October 20
Despite last month’s declaration that Nigeria no longer had any case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the World Health Organisation (WHO) says Nigeria can’t be officially designated Ebola-free until October 20.
WHO country representative, Dr Ruiz Vaz, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at a meeting medical experts convened to discuss ways of finding effective treatment for Ebola and reviewing available treatment options for the disease.
Vaz said Nigeria will have to wait until October 20 (after the 42-day follow up period) to be certified free of the virus.
“After the 42-day followup period, if there are no new cases, WHO will confirm Nigeria Ebola-free,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking at the meeting, Professor Innocent Ujah, co-chairman of the Treatment Research Group (TRG) on Ebola, which was inaugurated on August 4 by health minister, disclosed that the group had reviewed several treatment options, and verified and vetted all suggestions made to the health minister as possible medical counter-measures for the management of the disease.
Ujah stated that TRG had successfully served as a gatekeeper to sieve through various claims of treatment and cure for Ebola.
“To date, TRG has identified and recommended to the federal government three experimental vaccines for further clinical evaluation, as well as a candidate treatment drug as low-hanging fruits to improve management and control of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria,” he said.
He further said that the high level experts’ meeting was expected to provide a platform to review current national efforts and available resources, facilitate discourse and develop a roadmap for research on Ebola and other emerging diseases.
Members of TRG on Ebola are: Prof KS Gamaniel, Prof Maurice Iwu, Professor A Nasidi, Dr NS Gwarzo, Dr B Okoeguale and Dr Ansa Ogu.
Well I’m glad for that. I pray God that any hitherto unknown cases will be discovered b4 then. After health minister declared Nigeria Ebola free, a certain pharmacist said she had an Ebola victim come to her for treatment just a few days b4 then. And he was down with d symptoms. She said she told him where to go get treatment. I told her she should have alerted d health ministry in Lagos where this happened and also collected his contacts. Now what happened to that ebola victim? While we wait for 20th, can we intensify awareness and encourage people to turn themselves in if they suspect anything?