US doctor infected by Ebola releases statement thanking God for recovery

The US doctor infected with the Ebola virus but now recuperating after a serum shot , Dr Kent Brantly, has penned down a heartfelt statement thanking God for his recovery and stabilizing health. The statement was made available to samaritanspurse.org Read it below.....

I am writing this update from my isolation room at Emory University Hospital, where the doctors and nurses are providing the very best care possible. I am growing stronger every day, and I thank God for His mercy as I have wrestled with this terrible disease. I also want to extend my deep and sincere thanks to all of you who have been praying for my recovery as well as for Nancy (Writebol) and for the people of Liberia and West Africa. 

    My wife Amber and I, along with our two children, did not move to Liberia for the specific purpose of fighting Ebola. We went to Liberia because we believe God called us to serve Him at ELWA Hospital. 

  One thing I have learned is that following God often leads us to unexpected places. When Ebola spread into Liberia, my usual hospital work turned more and more toward treating the increasing number of Ebola patients. I held the hands of countless individuals as this terrible disease took their lives away from them. I witnessed the horror firsthand, and I can still remember every face and name.     When I started feeling ill on that Wednesday morning, I immediately isolated myself until the test confirmed my diagnosis three days later. When the result was positive, I remember a deep sense of peace that was beyond all understanding. God was reminding me of what He had taught me years ago, that He will give me everything I need to be faithful to Him.     Now it is two weeks later, and I am in a totally different setting. My focus, however, remains the same—to follow God. As you continue to pray for Nancy and me, yes, please pray for our recovery. More importantly, pray that we would be faithful to God’s call on our lives in these new circumstances. 

Patrick Sawyer, First Ebola Victim in Nigeria Escaped Quaratine in Liberia To Travel To Lagos

Reports have emerged that Liberian Ebola victim, Patrick Sawyer who died in a Lagos hospital, may have intentionally infected scores of Nigerians. One of the Nigerian nurses who attended him died on Tuesday and five others have tested positive to the  virus. Several more people are still in isolation pending their test status.  A new and extensive report by Front Page Africa chronicles his last hours in Lagos.

"Upon being told he had Ebola, Mr. Sawyer went into a rage, denying and objecting to the opinion of the medical experts.     “He was so adamant and difficult that he took the tubes from his body and took off his pants and urinated on the health workers, forcing them to flee.     "The hospital would later report that it resisted immense pressure to let out Sawyer from its hospital against the insistence from some higher-ups and conference organizers that he had a key role to play at the ECOWAS convention in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.     In fact, FrontPageAfrica has been informed that officials in Monrovia were in negotiations with ECOWAS to have Sawyer flown back to Liberia.

A text message in possession of FrontPageAfrica from the ECOWAS Ambassador in Liberia, responding to a senior GoL official reads: Your Excellency, the disease control department of the Federal Ministry of Health just contacted me through the hospital now, insisting that Mr. Sawyer be evacuated for now. Pls advise urgently.”     In the aftermath of Sawyer’s death, diplomatic, ECOWAS and medical authorities here are baffled over Sawyer’s deception, especially armed with new information that his sister, Princess had died of the deadly virus and his denial. Finance Ministry sources in Monrovia are in quiet murmur over what they feel was a letdown by Sawyer for not being forthcoming with his peers he worked with.

The ministry has since been temporarily shut down and those who came in contact with Sawyer are on a 21-day forced incubation monitoring process. "All senior officials coming in direct or indirect contact with Mr. Sawyer has been placed on the prescribed 21 days of observatory surveillance," the ministry said in a statement this week.     FrontPageAfrica has now learnt that Sawyer exhibited similar indiscipline behavior during his sister’s stay at the Catholic Hospital in Monrovia where she was taken because he noticed she was bleeding profusely and was later found to be a victim of Ebola.     Sawyer was seen with blood on his clothing after his sister’s death and had earlier demanded that she be placed in a private room.     President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf cited indiscipline and disrespect as a key reason why Sawyer contracted the Ebola virus. She said his failure to heed medical advice put the lives of other residents across the nation’s border at risk. 

NNPC shuts down clinic in Lagos over suspected patient with Ebola virus. (Photos)

There was panic in Victoria Island today after a suspected Ebola patient was found to be admitted at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC clinic on Muri Okunola.

The patient was said to have first been admitted at First Consultant Medical Centre around the same time Liberian Patrick Sawyer was being treated at the clinic. Men suited in white safety clothing and an ambulance were seen at the hospital around one 1pm today.

Though there's no definite confirmation that the patient is infected with Ebola, the Management of NNPC Clinic this evening announced the indefinite shutdown of the clinic.

The management said its a pre-emptive step and also said they have reported the issue to the Federal Ministry of Health as well as officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health. More pics after the cut.

GEJ declares national emergency on Ebola, approves N1.9b special intervention fund

Below is the State House press release...

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Friday in Abuja declared the control and containment of the Ebola virus in Nigeria, a National Emergency.

Accordingly, the President has directed the Federal Ministry of Health to work in collaboration with the State Ministries of Health, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to ensure that all possible steps are taken to effectively contain the threat of the Ebola virus  in line with international protocols and best practices. Continue...

President Jonathan also approved a Special Intervention Plan and the immediate release of N1. 9 billion for its implementation, to further strengthen on-going steps to contain the virus such as the establishment of additional isolation centres, case management, contact tracing, deployment of additional personnel, screening at borders, and the procurement of required items and facilities.

The President commends the vigilance of  aviation and health authorities in Lagos who identified and isolated the index case in Nigeria, the late Patrick Sawyer, an American-Liberian who flew into the country.

He also applauds the good work of health authorities at both State and Federal levels who have traced persons who had contact with him, isolated  other identified cases and embarked on massive public enlightenment.

President Jonathan calls for even greater vigilance and co-operation at all levels to stop the Ebola virus from spreading further.

As the effective implementation of the Federal Government's Special Intervention Plan will require other stakeholders to take certain precautionary steps that are supportive of the government’s initiative, the President calls on members of the public to follow all directives by health authorities and report any suspected Ebola case to the nearest health facility for immediate medical attention.  

He also enjoins the public to desist from spreading false information about  Ebola  which can lead to mass hysteria, panic and misdirection, including unverified suggestions about the prevention, treatment, cure and spread of the virus.  

President Jonathan urges that the movement of corpses from one community to the other, and from overseas into the country should be stopped forthwith. Every death should be reported to the relevant authorities, and special precautions should be taken in handling corpses.

Religious and political groups, spiritual healing centres, families, associations and other bodies should, in the meantime, discourage gatherings and activities that may unwittingly promote close contact with infected persons or place others at risk.

Public enlightenment agencies, including privately-owned media organs should support government’s efforts and disseminate correct information in all Nigerian languages, about preventive personal hygiene measures, the nature of the Ebola virus, modes of transmission and consequential steps to be taken in the event of infection.  

President Jonathan appeals to State governments and private day care, nursery, primary and secondary schools owners to consider the option of extending the current school holiday until such a time when a national reassessment of the level of the Ebola threat is conducted.  

The President further directs the National Emergency Management Agency and similar agencies at the state level to strengthen their public enlightenment campaigns and to use their networks to distribute hand sanitisers and other protective items nationwide. He has also directed the aviation and health authorities to embark on immediate intensification of the screening of travelers at all the nation’s borders.

President Jonathan reassures everyone that the Government of Nigeria will continue to take every step, deploy all resources, and mobilize every support and assistance to check the spread of Ebola in the country.

Medical workers and other health professionals are expected to regard this declaration of a National Emergency as a patriotic call to duty and service. 

Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media and Publicity)

Juliet Ibrahim calls out OAPs making a joke of the Ebola crisis. In response to the salt water rumor.

This salt and hot water curing Ebola is BS and the lady who supposedly sent it out as a joke yesterday has since apologized. 

Ebola: 2 fresh cases confirmed in Lagos, GEJ summons emergency meeting

The Federal government has confirmed two more cases of Ebola virus disease in Lagos. This brings to a total of 9 confirmed cases in Nigeria, seven infected with the disease and two dead. 

The federal government also said about 139 persons who have had direct or indirect contact with the confirmed cases are currently under surveillance.

Meanwhile President Jonathan has summoned an emergency meeting at the State House Abuja over the virus outbreak in the country.

Liberia closes its borders to stop Ebola

The deadliest Ebola outbreak in history continues to plague West Africa as leaders scramble to stop the virus from spreading.

Over the weekend, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf closed most of the country's borders. The few points of entry that are still open will have Ebola testing centers and will implement preventive measures, she said. The president also placed restrictions on public gatherings and ordered hotels, restaurants and other entertainment venues to play a five-minute video on Ebola safety.

"No doubt the Ebola virus is a national health problem," Sirleaf said. "It attacks our way of life, with serious economic and social consequences. As such we are compelled to bring the totality of our national resolve to fight this scourge."

Abacha loot: US to return $480million to Nigeria

The U.S has taken control of $480million which is part of money stolen by former military dictator General Sani Abacha, after a court ruling in D.C on Wednesday August 6th. The U.S Department of Justice will now hand over the stolen money to Nigerian government, U.S government spokesman said yesterday.

According to court documents, late General Abacha, his son Mohammed Sani Abacha, their associate Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and others embezzled, misappropriated, extorted money from the Nigerian government and stashed them in various banks across the world. Continue...



During investigations, $303 million was found in two bank accounts operated by Abacha and his cronies in the British offshore center of Jersey while $144 million was also found in 2 bank accounts they operated inFrance. Continue...

  
They also operated three accounts in the UK and Ireland which had at least $27m. Investigations are still being carried out on claims to another $148 million in four investment portfolios in the UK.

Prosecutors say they laundered funds by buying bonds backed by the United States using U.S. financial institutions including banks such as the Deutsche Bank AG, HSBC Holding Plc and Banque SBA. 

Assistant Attorney General, Leslie Caldwell said in the statement “Rather than serve his county, General Abacha used his public office in Nigeria to loot millions of dollars, engaging in brazen acts of kleptocracy".

In June 2014, after a 16 year court battle, Nigeria was able to recover  $228 million stolen by Abacha and his associates and deposited in Liechtenstein.