Three suspected Ebola cases recorded in Kaduna

The Nation Reports:

A 300 level law student at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria is has been hospitalised at teaching hospital of the university for showing symptoms similar to Ebola Virus Disease.

Even though the Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Bilyaminu Umar told our Correspondent that, he was out of town, he had told an online media that, the student  showed some symptoms associated with Ebola Virus Disease.

He was quoted to have said that,    
    
     "Yes, there was a case of a
      suspected Ebola patient. He is
      with the Faculty of Law, ABU,
      Zaria and will be placed on
      isolation. I am out of town, but
      I will confirm details on my
      return from a trip," he said.

However, other credible sources from the hospital told The Nation that, officials of the World Health Organisation (WHO) had taken the patient’s sample to Lagos for test and result is expected in 24 hours.

According to a senior staff in the hospital who doesn’t want his name in the print;

    "Yes, there is a patient in the
     hospital with symptoms similar
     to Ebola, but we are not sure
     yet. But, our fear is that, the
     patient just came back Guinea,
     so it is a possibility that, it is the
     Ebola Virus."

    "The symptoms the boy is
     showing is not only peculiar to
     Ebola, it could be Lassar Fever,
     but the fact that Ebola is the
     epidemic around now and that
     the student just came back from
     Guinea is what worries people."

    "In fact, a colleague just
     entered now and he was
     washing his hands, so when we
     asked him what happened, he
     said, they just took blood
     sample of the patient.” He
     stated.

However, experts have said not all patients who manifest some symptoms of the virus end up testing positive to the disease.

Meanwhile, Kaduna State Commissioner for Health. Dr. Joseph Thot Dogo had said at a function in Kaduna that, the Zaria case has not been ascertained.

He confirmed that his ministry got the information and a team was dispatched to Zaria and the Blood sample of the suspected student was taken and flown to Lagos for laboratory test.

According to him;

     "This is not the first suspected
      case, we have one in Jaji when
      an army Major just back from
      Sierra-Leone fell sick and was
      said to be showing some trails
      of Ebola and the same process
      was followed and the result is
      negative."

     "We also have a woman in
      Kagoro who was said to be
      showing trails of Ebola virus
      and the Ebola steering
      Committee has sent her blood
      sample to Lagos and we are
      expecting the result in the next
      24 hours."

     "I can confirmed to you that
      Kaduna state is Ebola free and
      our technical committee is on
      standby for any unforeseen
      situation," Dr Thot said.