In the interest of our patients, staff, the general public
the nation at large we state the following:
A 40-years old gentlemen came into
the hospital with symptoms suggestive of Malaria (Fever, headache, extreme
weakness) on Sunday night (20th July 2014).
He was fully conscious and gave us
his clinical history and told us he is a Senior Diplomat from Liberia.
He denied having
been in contact with any persons with EVD (Ebola Virus Disease) at home, in any
hospital or at any burial.
In spite of this denial we immediately decided to do
the following:
1. To conduct further tests for possible Infectious Haemorrhagic
Disease, especially EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE, based on the fact that he was a
Liberian citizen and the recent ourbreak of EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE in that country
2. We immediatrly isolated/quarantined the patient, commenced barrier nursing
and simultaneously contacted the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the Federal
Ministry of Health to enquire where further laboratory tests could be performed
as we had a high index of suspicion of possible EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE
3. WE
REFUSED FOR HIM TO BE LET OUT OF THE HOSPITAL IN SPITE OF INTENSE PRESSURE, AS
WE WERE TOLD THAT HE WAS A SENIOR ECOWAS OFFICIAL AND HAD AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO
PLAY AT THE ECOWAS CONVENTION IN CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE.
4. The initial
test results from LUTH laboratory indicated a signal of possible EBOLA VIRUS
DISEASE, but required confirmation.
5. We then took the further step of
reaching out to Senior Officials in the office of the Secretary of Health of
the United States of America who promptly assisted us with contacts at
the centres for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organisation Regional
Laboratory Centre in Senegal.
6. Working jointly with the State, Federal Agencies
and Internaional Agencies, we were able to obtain confirmation of EBOLA VIRUS
DISEASE (ZAIRE STRAIN), (W.H.O. Regional Center Lab-Senegal/Redeemes lab/LUTH
Laboratory)
7. The gentleman subsequently died on Friday at a 6.50 (25th July,
2014)
8. All agencies were promptly notified and in consultation with W.H.O,
Regional EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE Centre in Conakry, Guinea and Best Practices, the
following was commenced:
a. Orderly temporary shut down of the hospital with
immediate evacuation of in house patients
b. The appropriate professional
removal of the body and its incineration wunder W.H.O. guidelines witnessed by
all appropriate agencies.
9. Having concluded the above, it is now appropriate
to give this Press release in the interest of our patient, staff, the general
public and the nation at large.
10. In keeping with W.H.O, guidelines,
hospitals is shut down briefly as full decontamination exercise is currently in
progress W.H.O. Guidelines In conclusion working with the STATE, FEDERAL AND
INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES, we were able to identify and confirm the diagnosis of
the EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE.
We hope that by our action of preventing this
gentleman from being extracted from our hospital and traveling to Calabar we
have been able to prevent the spread of EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE in Nigeria.
The
Board and Management of the Hospital wish to thank all our staff members for
their diligence and professionalism. Thank You.
Signed Dr.B.N.OHIAERI
DR.A.S.ADADEVEOH First Consultants Medical Centre Limited 16/24 Ikoyi Road,
Obalende, Lagos
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