Ebola Scare: “It’s 90 per cent something else,” Calabar medical official says
So someone died of what appeared to be viral haemorrhage fever at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) on Wednesday.
There are fears the victim may have been killed by the Ebola virus.
Ten people who came in contact with the patient have been quarantined, officials said.
World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Nigeria Ebola-free last October. One year after, there are fears the virus may have found its way back into the country.
A top Cross River health official said there is probably no reason to fear. He put the probability of the return of Ebola at 10 per cent; judging by the Calabar case, that is.
“Judging from the information I have received so far, I am 90 per cent sure that it is not Ebola,” Director of Public Health in the state Ministry of Health, Dr. Sunday Omini, said on Thursday.
“We are aware of the situation and we have got preliminary reports from the hospital, and we are all awaiting the result of the blood samples.
“We are on top of the situation, there is no cause for alarm,’’ he said.
Omini’s assurances mean Nigerians may now sleep with 90 per cent of their eyes closed.
