BY ABIOSE ADELAJA ADAMS

The minister of Health, professor Onyebuchi Chukwu on Monday announced that contrary to an earlier report that the number of infections from Ebola Virus Disease is 14, the outcome of a new laboratory investigation indicates that it is actually 13.

Last Friday Chukwu had announced that two new persons who are spouses of the primary contact with the index case were confirmed positive.

However, another laboratory test has revealed that the 14th case turned out to be negative after all.

“The 14th case initially announced as positive turned out to be a false positive. Total number of confirmed cases including the index case is now 13, while total deaths due to EVD, including the index case, remains 5,” the minister said in a statement, signed his media aide, Dan Nwomeh.

Last week, five Ebola patients who survived the virus were discharged. According to Chukwu, they are doing well, leaving a total number of three patients currently receiving treatment in the isolation ward at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.
The minister also hints that one of the three persons receiving treatment may soon be discharged after necessary protocols are followed.

In this current outbreak Ebola virus disease has killed over 1000 people in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone and infected over 2000 people.