Nigeria confirms two more cases of Ebola

Nigeria on Thursday confirmed that two more cases of Ebola have been recorded in a state within the southern region of the country, summing up the total number of patients currently under treatment to three.

Nigeria's Minister of Health Onyebuchi Chukwu said the fresh carriers of the disease were found in Port Harcourt, capital of oil-rich Rivers State, bringing the total number of cases ever recorded in Nigeria to 15.

He told reporters in the Nigerian capital Abuja that government would do its best to contain the disease, noting this is the first time an Ebola case would be confirmed outside Lagos since Liberian- American Patrick Sawwyer introduced the virus to Nigeria last month.

On Wednesday, the official had said despite efforts at containing the Ebola Virus Disease and the reduction of patients on treatment, the West African country was still very much at risk of the virus.

He noted the virus may still find its way to Nigeria as long as there is a case of Ebola anywhere in the world and there is free movement of persons from country to country.

He dissuaded citizens of Nigeria from rolling out the drums and celebrate until the last case of Ebola is eliminated in the world.

Out of the 15 cases of the virus infection recorded in Nigeria, including the index case, five persons had died, seven patients were successfully managed and discharged from a treatment facility, while three patients are currently under treatment, according to the new official statistics.

The Nigerian health official said the country will not close its borders, although screening of visitors and Nigerians coming back to the country was being intensified at the entry points. Earlier this month, the Nigerian president declared a national emergency, saying a sum of 1.9 billion naira (11.6 million U.S. dollars) would be released to prevent further spread of the epidemic.

Ebola spreads through body fluids and has killed over 1,500 people in African countries.