The Kwara
State government yesterday ordered the immediate closure of a private hospital
in Ilorin, the state capital, over a suspected Ebola Virus contaminations.
The
Chairman, State Implementation Committee on Control of Ebola Epidemic,
Professor Sunday Opabola, announced the closure in Ilorin yesterday while
addressing journalists over an alleged case of outbreak of the virus in the
state.
Opabola, who
is also the Senior Special Assistant on Primary Health Care to Governor
Abdulfatah Ahmed, said the closure became imperative in view of the
seven-month-old baby suspected with the virus in the hospital.
He also said
already, the suspected case had been isolated and quarantined in Sobi
Specialist Hospital, Ilorin.
According to
Opabola, the suspected baby boy came into the state with her mother as visitors
from Ibadan.
He explained
that upon their entry into the state, the child was taken to hospital for
malaria, adding that after the baby had spent three days on admission and there
was no sign of improvement, the doctor treating him reported the case to the
ministry for prompt action.
He said
after a close examination, the patient vomit was discovered to have traces of
blood in it, which was taken and sent to Lagos for laboratory examination.
He said: “If
not the situation on ground, malaria, cholera and other cases in babies can
come with such symptoms like that of Ebola virus.
He said the
state government cannot take chances hence the reason the hospital was closed down
and surveillance was put in place to prevent any possible spread.
He said the
state government has already ordered the purchase of Ebola test machine form
Abuja and it is to be installed at the Kwara Diagnostic Centre.
He noted
that the state has created three Isolation centres one in Sobi Specialist
Hospital, Omu-Aran General Hospital and the General Hospital Okuta on the
border town of the state.
He urged the people of the state not to panic though the case was a global case, but that Kwara is safe.
He urged the people of the state not to panic though the case was a global case, but that Kwara is safe.
Tags
Society