#Ebola: Total Number Of Persons Under Watch: 198, FG Approves Experimental Drug Zmapp For Treatment..

To check possible outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in Enugu State, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, on Wednesday disclosed that 20 persons have been quarantined in the state.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, said 198 persons are currently under watch by the Ministry of Health to contain further spread of the disease.

A nurse had earlier fled the Lagos quarantine centre and travelled to Enugu where she had contact with 20 other people.

Of the 198 persons under surveillance, he said that 177 of them are in Lagos, while 21 are in Enugu.

He said:

 “All those who had primary contact have been quarantined. Secondary contacts have also been traced. So far the number of people that have been traced is 198.

 Out of this number, 177 are in Lagos and are being traced. Some are in quarantine, some are being monitored by health specialists.”

“21 persons in Enugu are also being watched. This is because one of the nurses that was involved with the treatment of the index case, unfortunately, disobeyed medical instructions and somehow travelled to Enugu.”

“All those who she was in contact with including her husband are under quarantine. The medical team had been able to trace all those who made contact with her.”

He urged members of the public to discountenance rumours and unverified reports over the Ebola epidemic, saying the government will prosecute anybody spreading rumors that damage public health.

He said: “Health workers are now in all our border units. All the entry points into this country and exit points, we have port health workers that are working in our airports and seaports.”

Meanwhile The National Health Research Ethics Committee of Nigeria has approved the use of an experimental Ebola drug, Zmapp, for treatment of patients infected with the virus.

 The committee, which comprises research scientists, is a national body under the Federal Ministry of Health. The endorsement is contained in a statement made available to journalists and signed by Dr. Clement Adebamowo, chairman of the committee.

 “It is ethical to use these treatments in the current situation without first submitting an application to National, State or Institutional Health Research Ethics Committee for prior review and approval. In addition, the committee waives the current requirement that international shipment of any biological samples out of Nigeria should be preceded by the establishment of a Materials Transfer Agreement. This waiver is to promote rapid international response to this global emergency,” the statement said.

In the statement, the Nigerian National Code for Health Research Ethics emphasised that all innovative and non-validated treatments should be carefully and adequately documented.

 It said the documentation can form the basis for clinical trials of the efficacy and side effects of the treatment according to established scientific principles. It added that the ethics committee enjoins all agencies, development partners and research scientists to follow the guidelines for rapid resolution of the current emergency.

“The guideline will contribute to preparedness in case of future occurrences and contribution to scientific knowledge. It must be noted that all Phase O and Phase I Clinical Trials that may subsequently be designed for treatment of this infection can be approved only by the National Health Research Ethics Committee,” it said.

The decision by the committee is coming on the heels of Tuesday’s approval by the World Health Organisation, WHO, on the use of experimental drug, ZMapp, for treatment of Ebola patients.