Ebola: Schools to re-open mid-September–FG

The Federal Government says it has reversed the extension of the resumption of primary and secondary schools from October 13 to mid-September. The government had late last month extended school holidays to October 13 as part of the measures to contain the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease. But Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu told State […]

The Federal Government says it has reversed the extension of the resumption of primary and secondary schools from October 13 to mid-September.

The government had late last month extended school holidays to October 13 as part of the measures to contain the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease.

But Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu told State House journalists that the Federal Executive Council today decided that to reopen the schools mid-September based on experts’ advice and the effective containment of the spread of the virus.

Chukwu said the council had directed the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, to convene an emergency meeting with all state commissioners of education in order to agree on the new resumption date.

Chukwu said 296 persons are currently under surveillance in the country including 255 in Port Harcourt and 41 in Lagos State.

He said Enugu was completely free of the disease.

He said only two persons were currently being treated for full blown Ebola disease in the country; the widow of Port Harcourt doctor, Samuel Emenuo and his sister who, he said were at isolation centres in Lagos and Port Harcourt respectively.

Chukwu, who put the total number of confirmed Ebola cases in Nigeria at 18 including the index case, said 14 were recorded in Lagos and four in Port Harcourt, adding that eight had been managed and discharged; while seven had died.

The minister, who refuted reports that 60 Ebola contacts were missing in Port Harcourt, also noted that thorough investigations of the rumours of the disease in Abuja and Calabar had proven negative.

He said the result of the test carried out on the Law student of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, was still being awaited to confirm if he had Ebola or not.