No New Ebola Case In Lagos: Health Minister Debunks Report

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, has dismissed reports that there are five fresh cases of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Lagos. This was disclosed today, August 20, through his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Dan Nwomeh who advised Nigerians to disregard any news of fresh cases of the deadly disease. Nwomeh in a series of tweets advised that any doubtful information on the outbreak of EVD should be verified from the office of the Minister of Health, adding that the Minister of Health has the sole authority to announce confirmed cases of the disease in Nigeria. He added that there was no evidence that discharged patients can transmit the disease. See his tweets below: Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu restates that at present, today, now, Nigeria has only two confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease. — Dan Nwomeh (@DanNwomeh) August 20, 2014 This clarification follows reports of 5 new cases in Lagos State. This should be disregarded please — Dan Nwomeh (@DanNwomeh) August 20, 2014 Any doubtful information on d outbreak of EVD should be verified from the office of d Minister of Health — Dan Nwomeh (@DanNwomeh) August 20, 2014 The minister reassures Nigerians that any new confirmed case of EVD in Nigeria will be announced by his office promptly — Dan Nwomeh (@DanNwomeh) August 20, 2014 Reports surfaced some hours ago that there are new cases of the deadly Ebola virus as five people showing symptoms were brought to the Yaba Mainland Hospital in Lagos and a Liberian was among them. According to the World Health Organization data on Ebola, the virus has killed 1,229 people since its outbreak in West Africa, while there are now 2,240 confirmed cases.