29 Ebola patients flee as gunmen invade isolation ward

Fears has however heightened that the EVD might spread further in the region after 29 patients fled when armed men attacked their isolation ward in Monrovia, Liberia on Friday.

The incident happened as a Nigerian was tested for the virus in Alicante, home to 82,000 Britons in Spain.

A witness was quoted by The Mailonline as saying that the Liberian gunmen smashed down the doors of the ward and looted medical supplies.

“They broke down the doors and looted the place. The patients all fled,” said Rebecca Wesseh, who witnessed the attack.

The Head of Health Workers Association of Liberian, George Williams, confirmed the incident.

Armed men attacked an Ebola isolation ward in Liberia’s capital city of Monrovia, as seen from the roof of an abandoned hotel on Friday. A total of 29 patients fled the ward in terror.

UK to examine Nigerian students for Ebola

Thousands of Nigerians admitted into United Kingdom universities appear sure to face tough health screening as their campuses have been placed on the alert for the danger posed by the Ebola Virus Disease.


According to The Independent on Sunday, the alert by Universities UK, the umbrella body that represents vice-chancellors, was issued because the universities are expecting new students to arrive from West Africa.

While the three countries which have seen the largest number of Ebola cases – Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone – have hardly any students enrolling at UK universities, Nigeria – which has also had confirmed cases – is the fourth largest supplier of international students to UK universities.

In 2012-13, the latest year for which figures are available, a total of 9,630 were enrolled.

A spokesman for the body said, “The issue is very much on universities’ radars. We circulated to universities the publicly available guidance on the topic.”

The guidance makes it clear that any student suspected of having Ebola should immediately be isolated in a side room away from any member of staff or student contact.

“The side room should have dedicated en-suite facilities or at least a dedicated commode,” it says. “The level of staff protection is dependent on the patient’s condition,” the London-based newspaper newspaper said.

It added that “those having any dealings with the patient must take careful hand hygiene precautions, wearing double gloves and a disposable visor.

The guidance told university workers that, “evidence from outbreaks strongly indicates that the main routes of transmission of infection are direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membrane) and indirect contact with environments contaminated with splashes or droplets of blood or body fluids.”

It said that experts “agree that there is no circumstantial or epidemiological evidence of an aerosol transmission risk from patients.”

FIFA U-20 Women World Cup: Nigeria trash New Zealand 4-1 to reach semi-finals

The Super Falconets of Nigeria defeated New Zealand in the quater final of the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women World Cup in Canada.

Nigeria started quickly, just as Peter Dedevbo's side did against Korea Republic in the group stage, and proved to be too strong for New Zealand as Asisat Oshoala's brace gave the Super Falconets a 4-1 win and passage into the semi-finals of the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014.

Oshoala scored just 31 seconds into the game, finishing an attack that began when Nigeria kicked off. Ugo Njoku sent in an inch-perfect cross from the right to find the No4 in between two New Zealand defenders, who calmly headed home from six yards.

Oshoala's opening goal is the second-fastest goal at a U-20 Women's World Cup, only bested by team-mate Courtney Dike's strike 18 seconds into Nigeria's second group stage game.

With the African side clearly in charge, Oshoala doubled Nigeria's lead 11 minutes later.

Chinwendu Ihezuo sent a delightful ball into space, beating four Kiwi defenders with the pass, for Oshoala to chase down. The speedy forward took one touch towards goal and finished through the Lily Alfeld's legs. An enthusiastic dancing celebration with Oshoala and her team-mates ensued near the corner flag.

New Zealand, who were playing in their first quarter-final at a U-20 Women's World Cup, looked out of their comfort zone throughout the first half and were never able to trouble the Nigerian backline. After the second goal,

Dedevbo's team quieted down as well as both teams looked to navigate the wet conditions in Moncton.

After that the action quieted down significantly with Nigeria losing their spark and both teams struggling to control possession on a rainy pitch in Moncton. It was much of the same after the break, though Emma Rolston nearly gave New Zealand a way back into the game in the 54th minute. The No14 was strong in the air and flicked on a hopeful long ball, which nearly caught goalkeeper Sandra Chiichii by surprise at the far post, but she was able to get a hand on it.

Alfeld did well to keep the scoreline at 2-0 in the 68th minute when she tipped Uchenna Kanu's powerful shot off the crossbar that otherwise would have screamed into the roof of the net. There was not much the Kiwi keeper could do, though, six minutes from time when Uchechi Sunday blasted home from six yards off a corner kick to extend Nigeria's lead to 3-0.

Rolston ensured New Zealand would not crash out of the quarter-final empty-handed and, in the 89th minute, she beat her defender to the near post and redirected Jasmine Pereira's cross past Chiichii to make it 3-1. In the waning seconds, however, Nigeria restored their three-goal lead when Sunday scored her second goal in six minutes. The pacey No20 dribbled down the left, beat her defender and calmly finished past Anfeld.

Having won three games in a row, Nigeria will enter the semi-finals full of confidence where they will face the Korea DPR, while New Zealand can head home knowing they have gone further at this U-20 Women's World Cup than any Kiwi side before them.

How Ebola patients survived – Experts

Following the recovery and discharge of the first Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) patient from the isolation centre at the Mainland Hospital in Lagos, facts have emerged as to how the patients are recovering.

Meanwhile, more patients undergoing medical treatment at the centre may be discharged this week, investigations revealed.

Experts, who commented on the development, said although 60-90 per cent of people infected with the Ebola virus die, some people do recover from infection.

“Doctors don’t know for certain who will survive Ebola, and there is no specific treatment or cure for the disease. But studies suggest there are some biological markers linked with a higher chance of surviving Ebola,” the experts say.

Gloria Tumwijuke (with microphone), Alice Ngonzi Isoke (folding hands in red dress), Diana Alinaitwe (behind Alice), Mrs Isoke (Alice’s mother), an unidentified health worker(on Gloria’s right) and a granddaughter to Mrs Isoke – all Ebola survivors narrating their ordeal at Kagaadi Hospital during the function to officially declare Uganda Ebola free. Photo courtesy WHO

In the view of Derek Gatherer, a Bioinformatics researcher at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, who studies viral genetics and evolution, “when a person becomes infected with Ebola, the virus depletes the body’s immune cells, which defend against infection.

“In particular, the Ebola virus depletes immune cells called CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes, which are crucial to the function of the immune system”, Gatherer noted, arguing that “if a person’s immune system can stand up to this initial attack — meaning their immune cells are not as depleted in the first stages of infection — then they are more likely to survive the disease.

“The patients that survive it best are the ones who don’t get such a bad immune deficiency. But if the body is not able to fend off this attack, then the immune system becomes less able to regulate itself”, Gatherer said.

Markers

Another marker linked with people’s ability to survive Ebola is a gene called human leukocyte antigen-B, which makes a protein that is important in the immune system. A 2007 study found that people with certain versions of this gene, called B*07 and B*14, were more likely to survive Ebola, while people with other versions, called B*67 and B*15, were more likely to die.

Some people may be resistant to Ebola infection entirely, if they have a mutation in a gene called NPC1. Studies show that, when researchers take cells from people with the NPC1 mutation and try to infect them with Ebola in a laboratory dish, these cells are resistant to the virus.

Gatherer said in European populations, about 1 in 300 to 1 in 400 people has this mutation.

“But in some populations, this mutation is more common: in Nova Scotia, between 10 and 26 per cent of people have this mutation. But the frequency of this mutation in African populations is not known,” he said.

Also giving an insight, Lagos state Governor Babatunde Fashola remarked: “This is a virus that will run a maximum of 21 days. What we must do is people who show some signs of illness should come in very early so that we can continue to hydrate them, give electrolyte balance so that their nervous system do not go into shock and wherever it is necessary to provide antibiotics for patients; and their body can fight the virus which in the event last no longer than 21 days.”

More to be discharged this week — Fashola

Fashola, who spoke at a media briefing where he indicated that more patients were likely to be discharged this week, noted: “There is silver lining in all of this, as report reaching me shows that many of the critical patients are responding positively to treatment and are likely to be discharged next week, (this week).

“At the moment, 61 people have been certified negative and they have been freed.

“Aside the treatment for those who have full grown cases, the more important work is tracking all those who have had contact with them in order to know how far the virus has spread. It is when we have finally reach everyone that we can say that we have control over the virus. From that place we can go back to sleep.”

Nasidi speaks

Also speaking at a different forum, Director, Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control, NCDC, Prof. Abdulsalim Nasidi said the likelihood of more patients being discharged arose from medical reports indicating that they are showing signs of full recovery from the disease.

Nasidi, who spoke on the probability of more patients being discharged, had earlier affirmed that there were chances of surviving the deadly disease if treated early.

“Yes, we have some of the patients who have fully recovered from the disease after intensive medical treatment and they are likely to go home and reunite with their family members soon,” he affirmed.

On the downing of tools by the health workers attending to quarantined patients at the Control Centre in Lagos, last Friday, he said the workers had resumed work after appeals and meeting held with some of the aggrieved workers.

Their decision to stop work followed allegations of negligence by family members of one of the patients’ nurses that died of EVD last week.

It was also gathered that more essential medical kits have been made available for distribution to hospitals in anticipation of more health workers and volunteers that will be joining the joint medical team already on ground.

Death toll rises to 1,145 globally — WHO

Meanwhile, death toll from the worst ever outbreak of Ebola has risen to 1,145, the World Health Organisation, WHO, has said, even as 76 new deaths were reported in two in the four West African nations affected by the epidemic.

The WHO said that a total of 152 confirmed, probable and suspected new cases of the deadly hemorrhagic fever were reported in the two day period in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, bringing the total for the outbreak to 2,127.

  Chukwu addresses concerns of Ebola relatives

Minister for Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu who met with the concerned friends and families of the Ebola afflicted victims following their complaints about the welfare of their wards said: “As you know, we have a serious situation and anyone that has a relative is bound to be anxious, and when relatives complain, we must listen.”

Chukwu admitted that all the complaints were being investigated, adding that he had been briefed  on the development and recommendations were being put in place.

“I’m a doctor myself and I’m behaving now more as a doctor than as a Minister. Normally, when relatives of patients complain, I want to see them, working together, sometimes they do not have the full information, and who knows, sometimes they themselves can add valued to what we are doing.”

He said the Federal Government was open to suggestions and contributions.

“We knew the former place was only temporary and we knew we could do better and that was why the Lagos State government made every effort to get the new isolation unit ready. Penultimate Friday, I visited the Lagos State Governor and he personally assured me the new facility will be ready this week. He kept to his word. Of course as soon as it was ready it was made available and the patients have been moved to the new facility, which is better than where they were before.”

Pointing out that no stone was being left unturned, he said hopefully all shortcomings they may have observed were actually being addressed by the new place.

“I had to personally discuss with the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof Akin Oshibogun, when I was told they were not satisfied with facilities for critical care. That is why we have reinforced what is available. New equipment has been put in to reassure the patients that we would do everything humanly possible to keep them alive and to return them to their families and work,” the Minister explained.

Source: - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/ebola-patients-survived-experts/#sthash.pRTWbKyC.dpuf

Nigerian troops clear terrorist camp in Borno

The Defence Headquarters has said in Abuja on Saturday that troops of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has cleared a terrorists camp in Buduram, north of Doron Baga in Borno.

A statement by the Defence Headquarters said the dawn raid operation was carried out on Friday 15 August.


The statement said the troops raided the camp where the terrorists were re-grouping and re-organising to carry out a reprisal attack after being routed in Doron Baga in a previous encounter on 10 August.

According to the statement, 17 terrorists died in the operation, while some who escaped into neighbouring islands in the Lake Chad Peninsula are still being pursued.

It noted that calm had been restored to Doron Baga after the attack by the terrorists who infiltrated the community with some of them disguising as women in hijab.

It added that five of the terrorists died in the counter offensive to defend Doron Baga by troops of the MNJTF.

According to the statement, many of the inhabitants of the community who fled into nearby bushes for safety are now returning.

Victor Moses joins

The Nigerian international will link up with his compatriot Osaze Odemwingie at Stoke City this season, after securing a season-long loan deal from Chelsea.

The former Wigan Athletic player, who was on loan at Liverpool last season, is Stoke's sixth new recruit of the summer.



"We are delighted to have secured the services of such an exciting young talent in Victor," Stoke's chief executive Tony Scholes said on the club's website.

"He will certainly add to our attacking options and from talking to him it's obvious that he's really excited about the prospect of making an impact."

Moses, will play no part in Stoke's season opener against Aston Villa later on Saturday.

Stoke have been busy in the transfer window as they try and build their ninth-placed finish last season.

Bojan, Mame Diouf, Phil Bardsley, Steve Sidwell and Dionantan Teixeira were all in line to make their debuts against Villa at the Brittania Stadium.

Apart from Stoke City, the influx of Nigerian strikers into the widely watched premier league continues with West Brom's acquisition of Brown Ideye to link up with Victor Anichebe at the club.

Manchester United lose first game of the season under Louis Van Gaal

It was rather a poor start for Manchester United and thier new Manager Luis Van Gaal as they suffered a home defeat in the hands of Swansea in their first home game and the season opener.

Manchester United initially leveled scores with an acrobatic by the new captain of the side, Wayne Rooney having gone behind in the first half with a goal from Sung-Yueng Ki in the first half.



Gylfi Sigurdsson restored the lead for the away side in the 73rd minute, completing a first time win for Swansea at old Trafford.

Louis Van Gaal, will however be disappointed with the outcome of the match with his first competitive game in charge of the Reds.

The team won pre season friendly played under the new manager but failed to impress and turn the stakes around playing at home.