Nigeria seeks Japanese Ebola trial drug Favipiravir

Desperate to tackle the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the Federal Government has applied for a Japanese drug on test “Favipiravir.”Also being applied for is the TKM-Ebola drug and two other vaccines identified by the Treatment Research Group set up by government.

Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu broke the news yesterday at the second Emergency National Council on Health meeting in Abuja.Favipiravir was developed by a subsidiary of Japanese company Fujifilm Holdings. It could be delivered immediately by the makers, the minister said.The flu treatment was approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health in March.

Fujifilm spokesman Takao Aoki said the company was in talks with United States (U.S.) authorities about starting clinical testing of favipiravir for Ebola treatment. Aoki said the developers had enough stock to treat up to 20,000 patients.

The minister said: “The Treatment Research Group (TRG) has been working hard to identify experimental drugs, like Zmapp, and also make recommendations to government on further research on these drugs as well as vaccines for EVD treatment and prevention.“Following the TRG’s recommendation and in consultation with NAFDAC and NHREC, Nigeria has indicated interest to participate in the clinical trials for two candidate EVD vaccines and are considering a third that may be added to the list. We have also applied for experimental drugs, such as TKM-Ebola.”

Elderly woman tests positive for Ebola in Port Harcourt

One of the three persons taken to the Ebola virus quarantine centre in Oduoha, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, has tested positive for the disease.

The latest case, an elderly woman, contracted the virus in Good Heart Hospital, the health facility where Iyke Enemuo, the doctor who treated a Nigerian ECOWAS diplomat, Koye Olu-Ibukun, died last week.

The two others – a doctor and a pharmacist – tested negative. Even though they had been released from the centre,   another round of tests will however   be carried out to reconfirm their status.

The doctor and the pharmacist are members of staff of Sam Steel Clinic, a health facility founded by   Enemuo.

Enemuo whose sister, Chinyere,   was taken to the quarantine centre, will be buried next week.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, and the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, made these developments known   in Abuja and Port Harcourt on Monday.

Expect more Ebola virus cases in Nigeria – FG

The Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, has warned that a “few more” Nigerians will develop the Ebola Virus Disease before the deadly infection is curtailed in Nigeria. The minister said those at risk are those Nigerians who had contact with the victim in Rivers State. Mr. Chukwu highlighted the need for great vigilance, particularly at ports of entry, to prevent further importation of the virus into Nigeria.

“It is expected that a few more contacts will develop the EVD especially in Rivers State before Nigeria will see the last case of EVD,” the minister said. “While it is encouraging that so far, all confirmed cases of EVD in Nigeria have their roots in the index case, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, great vigilance is required particularly at our ports of entry to ensure we do not have cases of EVD from other sources other than Mr. Sawyer,” he had said Monday in Abuja.

Suspected Ebola Victim Dies In Asokoro Hospital

Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said on Monday that it was expecting a result of test conducted on a man who was suspected to have died of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD in Asokoro General Hospital in Abuja. 
Badaru Salisu Yakasai, Head, Public Relations Unit of the Health and Human Services Secretariat(HHSS) of the FCTA said in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday that the suspected Ebola patient died at the weekend before the result of the test could be released.
The statement read: “The Family Medicine unit of Asokoro District hospital suspected Ebola disease in a patient on admission at the Accident and Emergency unit on the 28th of August 2014 and immediately isolated the patient. 
“Strict infection control measures were immediately instituted. Blood sample was then taken to the designated FCT Ebola testing laboratory which happens to be within the Hospital premises.

ebol“The epidemiology unit of Public Health Department of the Health and Human Services Secretariat was notified and their response was immediate. The result of the Ebola testing was being expected from the Laboratory four days later, on Monday the 1st of September 2014.
“Unfortunately, the patient died the next day, Friday 29th August 2014.”Yakasai added that a number of medical staff of the hospital who had contact with the patient have been placed under surveillance.