Date 2014-09-09
Category Gist & Gossip
The first suspected case of Ebola Virus Disease is currently being investigated at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). If the test results come out positive, it would be the first time in any part of the world that a case would be reported in a university.
The patient, a female student reportedly confessed she had come in contact with the doctor that died of the disease in Port Harcourt.
Report from Obafemi Awolowo university Health Centre revealed the female student walked into the emergency room in the evening of Monday September 8. She reportedly informed the doctor on duty that she had been in contact with the late doctor’s family about 2 weeks ago, adding she had been in contact with the doctor’s 3 month old baby.
She presented with stooling and vomiting which had been on for over 3 days.
Her confession reportedly caused panic among patients at the health center who fled after hearing the news. She was immediately taken and kept under watch in the center’s isolation ward. Swiftly, the community health unit was called upon to fumigate the entire health centre while arrangement is in top gear to transfer her to a treatment facility.
We would like to categorically state this is still a suspected case and has not been confirmed by appropriate authorities. As such, caution should be exercised in the use and dissemination of this information.
According to our source, this morning revealed the management of the OAU Teaching Hospital allegedly turned down the request for the patient to be transferred to the hospital to prevent infecting patients and staff at the hospital.
Also, efforts are ongoing to identify individuals she had come in contact with.
OAU is one of Nigeria’s major universities owned and managed by the federal government of Nigeria. The university has thousands of students from various parts of the country which means an outbreak could become widespread if someone with the disease is among the students.
We would keep you updated on developments on this case.
Source: Health News Nigeria