Kwara state government Friday announced the immediate closure of a private hospital in Ilorin over a suspected Ebola Virus contaminations even as the government urged residents in the state not to panic noting that though the case was a global case, but that Kwara state is safe.
The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Public Health,Professor Sunday Popoola,in company of his counterpart from the Secondary Health,Dr Ibrahim Gambari said this at a press conference in the government house, Ilorin.
Professor Popoola told journalists that a seven month old baby girl brought to a private hospital in Ilorin was suspected to have the Ebola virus adding that the victim has been isolated and quarantined in Sobi Specialist hospital.
He explained that the suspected baby girl came into the state with her mother as visitors from Ibadan Oyo state, adding that upon their entry into the state in August the child was taken to the private hospital on malaria case .
He however expressed shock that after the baby had spent 3 days on admission there was no sign of improvement hence the doctor reported the case to the ministry for prompt action.
Professor Popoola noted that after 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 of the situation on ground, malaria, cholera and other cases in babies can come with such symptoms like that of Ebola virus.
“We have ordered the concerned private hospital closed and kept it on a very strict surveillance.”
Popoola explained that the state government can not take chances hence the reason the hospital was closed down and surveillance was put in place to prevent any possible spread.
He however disclosed that 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 hospial and the general hospital Okuta on the boarder town of the state .
