Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has disclosed that the man who succeeded in evading surveillance in Lagos and brought Ebola to Port Harcourt is like late Patrick Sawyer, an official of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi
The man reportedly travelled to Port Harcourt after coming in contact with Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian American, who brought the virus to Nigeria.
In a broadcast to the people of Rivers state on Thursday, Governor Amaechi said the unnamed ECOWAS diplomat, headed to the Garden City after having been infected by Sawyer and eventually led to the death of Ikechukwu Enemuo, a doctor who treated him.
According to Amaechi, “Our investigations revealed that a staff of the Economic Community of West African States [ECOWAS], on the day that the late Sawyer died of Ebola, made a trip to Port Harcourt where he went into a hotel and met with Dr. Ike (Enemuo).
“About a week after his departure, Dr. Ike (Enemuo) took ill and was rushed to hospital with symptoms of fever and diarrhea. In the course of treatment, the doctor became suspicious and took blood samples for investigation.
“In three days, Dr. Ike (Enemuo) died. Dr. Ike’s widow, who is also medical person, and who also took care of him, has taken ill and has been quarantined. Diplomat who was seen by late Dr. Enemuo is alive and well, there is no need to panic.”
Further, Amaechi said 100 contacts who came in contact with the doctor had been traced and placed under surveillance, while those with symptoms of Ebola had been isolated and under quarantine.
“And as of today, about 100 contacts from the hotel, patients of Dr. Enemuo and patients from the hospital where the late Enemuo was treated, have been identified and restricted. Different locations are being decontaminated,” Governor Amaechi stated.
The Ebola case in Port Harcourt has caused fear and outrage among Nigerians, leaving many frustrated after rejoicing just days ago following assurances that the virus has been contained as only one case was left.
With the with the new case, 15 case have now been recorded 15 cases in Nigeria, out of which six people have died and seven others already discharged from the Ebola isolation centre in Lagos.
