ANTI-EBOLA DRUG, NANO SILVER ARRIVES NIGERIA

- As Nurse Who Skipped Quarantine And Travelled To Enugu Is Returned To Lagos

Nigerians can now heave a sigh of relief as a scientist has discovered locally made drug for the treatment of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.

The trial drug, Nano Silver, was developed by a Nigerian scientist, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, told newsmen in Abuja. 

According to Chukwu, the drug has been used experimentally for many things and would be sent to Lagos on Thursday (yesterday) for the treatment of the already confirmed Ebola patients.

The experimental drug, according to Chukwu, is a patriotic efforts from a Nigerian scientist in the Diaspora.

“The experimental drug is a donation from a Nigerian scientist in Diaspora who was concerned about threat of Ebola in his home country", he said.

While announcing the development on Thursday, Chukwu also disclosed that the nurse who left Lagos for Enugu against medical advice after having contact with Patrick Sawyer has now been taken back to Lagos and has been put under quarantine with her husband.

However, Chukwu says the nurse has so far not developed the symptoms as of the time of her trip. The nurse who is newly wedded had no symptoms of the disease when she travelled to Enugu, was transported back to Lagos in a special ambulance with her husband, who is presently under quarantine. 

“In Enugu yesterday, there were 21 secondary contacts with the nurse. But after investigations, there are only 6 secondary contacts now”, he said in Abuja yesterday. 

On updates on Ebola cases in Nigeria, he said some of the 169 secondary contacts of Sawyer were no longer under surveillance and had been released, having completed the 21 days of incubation period.