Nigeria’s resolution to evacuate its confirmed Ebola patient to Switzerland was based mostly on diplomatic concerns, human rights and worldwide well being rules, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Jide Idris, has revealed.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Mr Idris mentioned the federal authorities authorized the switch after consultations with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, and assurances that ample an infection prevention measures can be maintained all through the journey.
The clarification follows an earlier report that the patient, a girl who’s the spouse of a Swiss diplomat in Nigeria, was evacuated via the personal jet wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Mr Idris dismissed ideas that the federal government had secretly eliminated the patient from Nigeria, saying the evacuation adopted a proper request from the Swiss Embassy.
“I won’t use the word ‘snuck out’. That’s a no-brainer. It is the first time something like that has happened,” he mentioned.
He mentioned the federal government weighed the implications of the switch for public well being, worldwide well being rules and the patient’s rights earlier than granting approval.
According to him, officers ensured that an infection prevention and management protocols have been adopted from the hospital the place the patient was receiving remedy to the plane that transported her.
Patient stays constructive
Mr Idris mentioned the patient had examined constructive twice earlier than her evacuation, explaining that enhancements in her scientific situation didn’t essentially imply she had cleared the virus.
He recommended the Nigerian medical group for stabilising her situation, which he mentioned had deteriorated to the purpose of a number of organ failure.
“There are no drugs to deal with this virus,” Mr Idris mentioned, referring to the absence of a longtime antiviral remedy particularly concentrating on the Bundibugyo virus chargeable for the present outbreak.
Mr Pate earlier confirmed that Nigeria’s Ebola patient and her husband arrived safely in Switzerland on Monday following their medical evacuation from Abuja.
In an replace posted on his official X account, Mr Pate mentioned the patient was receiving remedy at Geneva University Hospitals, whereas her husband had been positioned in isolation at University Hospital Zurich.
“The Swiss authorities have confirmed that the patient and her spouse arrived safely in Switzerland today,” he mentioned.
Previous improvement
Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case on 20 October, after a 42-year-old Ugandan-born lady residing in Abuja examined constructive for the illness.
The patient had returned to Nigeria on 3 October after travelling to Uganda and developed signs few days later.
She was subsequently admitted to a well being facility in Abuja, the place she obtained remedy in isolation earlier than her evacuation to Switzerland on Monday.
Following her evacuation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) mentioned Nigeria had no lively confirmed Ebola instances, though contact monitoring and different containment measures have been persevering with.
The WHO mentioned Nigeria was persevering with to monitor 52 contacts, whereas Switzerland had taken duty for the patient’s care and monitoring her husband, who was among the many 53 contacts beforehand recognized.
The NCDC had earlier recognized 53 main contacts linked to the confirmed case, together with healthcare staff, the patient’s husband, home employees and personnel concerned in gathering samples.
Health authorities are monitoring the contacts for attainable signs to detect any extra infections and stop additional transmission.
Mr Pate had earlier mentioned Nigeria may declare the Ebola outbreak over as early as 7 December if no additional confirmed or possible instances have been detected.
Caution
Mr Idris urged Nigerians to keep good hand hygiene and train warning throughout mass gatherings, significantly the place shut bodily contact may happen.
He mentioned handwashing may cut back the unfold of a number of infectious illnesses, whereas recommending measures to restrict pointless bodily contact in crowded settings.
However, he pressured that Ebola is just not airborne. The virus spreads primarily via direct contact with the blood or different bodily fluids of an contaminated particular person, or with contaminated supplies.
He suggested individuals who develop signs per Ebola, significantly after contact with a suspected or confirmed case, to search immediate medical steerage.
Mr Idris additionally cautioned towards counting on natural mixtures to stop or remedy the illness, saying there was no established proof that such preparations may stop or deal with Ebola. He warned that some natural merchandise may additionally trigger dangerous unwanted side effects.
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