Rivers State Government has said that it has achieved about 98 per cent coverage of 386 identified primary and secondary contacts of the late Dr. Iyke Samuel Enemuo in its efforts to contain the spread of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the state.
Briefing journalists in Port Harcourt Thursday on the status of the disease in the state, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Samson Parker, expressed optimism that the state would effectively contain the spread of the disease.
He disclosed that one of the two patients at the state treatment centre, a lady that was on admission at the Good Heart Hospital when Emenuo was admitted, died on Wednesday.
“The death of the woman is deeply regretted and that is why we are saying that any person who had primary or secondary contact with the Late Dr. Enemou should quickly report themselves to our medical personnel or contact us through our dedicated help lines.
Although, she was admitted at the Good Heart Hospital for cardiac challenges, her case after she developed feverish conditions was not reported to us on time,” the commissioner lamented.
The lady and Emenuo’s sister, Chinyere, who has tested positive, were both on admission at the Ebola Isolation Unit at Oduoha in Emohua Local Government Area.
He said the remains of Enemuo and the lady were interred in Port Harcourt on Wednesday while other corpses at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) mortuary when Enemuo’s corpse was taken there would all be buried this week.
Parker also disclosed that another woman was admitted at the treatment centre at Oduoha on Wednesday. The lady whom he described as a probable case, had shown symptoms of the disease and the result of tests conducted on her would be out later in the day.
He expressed satisfaction with the support of the private sector in the state.
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