Suspected Ebola Case in Abuja

A patient suspected to have been infected with the deadly Ebola virus has died at the Asokoro Hospital Abuja.



The suspected patient, who exhibited symptoms similar to those of persons infected with the virus died at the hospital last Friday. Following the death of the patient, the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital where the patient was being treated has been cordoned off and the accident and emergency unit has been temporarily relocated to the General outpatient unit (GOPD). Similarly, a list of all medical staff who had come in contact with the patient has been compiled and they are all under surveillance.

According to a statement by the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, on Thursday August 28, 2014 when the symptoms were observed, blood samples of the patient were taken for examination at the designated FCT Ebola testing laboratory which happens to be within the Hospital premises and the epidemiology unit of the Public Health Department of the secretariat was notified and the unit had responded.

The statement signed by the secretariat’s head of public relations, Badaru Yakassai, explained that the results of the Ebola test were being expected from the laboratory four days later (yesterday), before the patient died.

    “The Family Medicine unit of Asokoro District Hospital suspected Ebola disease in a patient on admission at the Accident and Emergency unit on the 28th of August 2014 and immediately isolated the patient. Strict infection control measures were immediately instituted. Blood sample was then taken to the designated FCT Ebola testing laboratory which happens to be within the hospital premises. The epidemiology unit of Public Health Department of the Health and Human Services Secretariat was notified and their response was immediate. The results of the Ebola test was being expected from the laboratory four days later, on Monday the 1st of September 2014. 

    The case also served as a drill case to test the preparedness of the hospital to manage and contain the Ebola disease. Clinical assessment however did not reveal any history of contact or travel. However in view of the high index of suspicion, isolation and strict infection control measures were continued and the unit was condoned off. Unfortunately, the patient died the next day, Friday 29th August 2014. The accident and emergency unit was temporarily relocated to the General Outpatient Unit (GOPD). A list of all medical staff who had come into contact with the patient has been compiled and they are all under surveillance,” Yakassai explained in the statement. 

The secretariat however advised residents of the territory not to panic as a case of Ebola has not been confirmed at the hospital, adding that the measures that have been put in place are only precautionary in the interest of public safety.