Nigeria confirms first Ebola death in Port Harcourt

Nigeria on Thursday said that a doctor had died from Ebola in the southeastern oil city of Port Harcourt in the first case of the deadly virus outside the financial hub, Lagos.

This is a setback to the euphoria that greeted federal government’s declaration on Tuesday that Nigeria has contained the disease outbreak.

Health minister Onyebuchi Chukwu said the medic died on August 22 after treating a patient who had contact with a Liberian-American man, who brought the virus into Nigeria and died in a Lagos hospital on July 25.

“Following the report of this death by the doctor’s widow the next day, the case had been thoroughly investigated and laboratory analysis showed that this doctor died from EVD (Ebola Virus Disease),” he told reporters in Abuja.

Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker also confirmed the development to newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, while confirming the development yesterday told journalists in Port Harcourt that Dr Enemuo, died after reportedly treating a diplomat working with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) whose identity could not be ascertained.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce to you that the Ebola virus has claimed its first victim in Rivers State. Dr. Iyke Sam Enemuo died last week Friday, August 22, 2014, as a result of what was suspected to be Ebola Virus Disease. The Rivers State Ministry of Health, on becoming aware of the conditions of his death, immediately commenced investigations and contact tracing,” Dr Parker noted.

He said about 100 persons suspected to have had contact with the late medical doctor, had been identified and monitored. “As at today, about 100 contacts from a hotel, patients of Dr Enemuo and patients of the hospital where the late Enemuo was treated until his demise, have been identified and restricted in Rivers State. The locations are being decontaminated. I had promised to be open and candid with the public on our efforts to tackle the Ebola virus.

“From our investigations, some facts have emerged. A staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the team that received the late Dr. Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American diplomat, who died of Ebola haemorrhagic disease in Lagos, made a trip to Port Harcourt, where he checked into a hotel and met with Dr Iyke Sam Enemuo.

“About a week after his departure, Dr Enemuo took ill and was rushed to a hospital, where he presented with symptoms of fever, diarrhoea and vomiting. In the course of treatment, the managing physician became suspicious and took samples for investigation. A few days after, Dr. Enemuo died on August 22, 2014. His body was deposited at a mortuary in Port Harcourt,” he said.

According to the commissioner, Enemuo’s widow, who is also a medical doctor, has taken ill and quarantined. “Dr. Iyke Enemuo’s widow, who is also a medical doctor and who cared for him during his illness has taken ill. She is being quarantined. A few hours ago, results of the test carried out on samples taken from Dr Enemuo came back and was positive of Ebola Virus Disease,

“The diplomat, who was seen by the late Dr. Enemuo, is alive and well, I urge every Rivers State citizen and residents to remain calm and go about their normal businesses. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water and avoid unnecessary body contacts till further notice.

“The Government of Rivers State is doing everything possible to contain the effects and spread of the Ebola Virus. We have all the material and human resources we need to fight and defeat the deadly virus. Officials of the Federal Ministry of Health and other international agencies are already here working with the state Ministry of Health.

“Together, I believe we can contain the Ebola virus. I shall continue to update you as more information become available”, Dr Parker assured.