3 ‘Ebola’ Patients From Guinea Caught Making Illegal Boarding Cross Into Nigeria

Three travellers suspected to be Ebola virus carrier have been temporarily stopped from gaining entry to Ogun State and presently placed on a 21-day observation to determine their health status.

This was disclosed Tuesday by the State Commissioner for Health, Olaokun Soyinka, at a press conference held in his office in Abeokuta.

He disclosed that the suspects – two Guineans and a Nigerian – had travelled from Guinea and had wanted to enter Ogun State through an illegal border crossing in Imeko-Afon town.

Mr. Soyinka said the suspects were sighted by health teams operating within the local government area and promptly stopped for an examination. He added that their health status would be determined at the end of 21 days.

The Commissioner said the government was producing a variety of information materials for the public in Yoruba, the main language in the state.

He said the state had also taken delivery of protective suits and other equipment needed for its isolation centre and was ready to take in patients if necessary.

Mr. Soyinka said, as at the time of the press conference, the state remained free of the Ebola virus. He disclosed that as part of its emergency response plan, the state government was compiling a list of volunteers who could be called upon for a variety of tasks.

“We thank the civic minded individuals who have already volunteered,” he said.

He noted that an urgent need in a situation of this nature was for quarantine and isolation centres. He said currently, three sites – one per senatorial district –have been set aside, with an aim to eventually set up one per local government area.