Liberia Apologizes To Nigeria Over Virus Spread

 

The Liberian Government on Thursday apologized to Nigeria over the importation of the deadly Ebola Virus by a Liberian-born American, Patrick Sawyer. Sawyer arrived Lagos on July 20 from Lome but died five days after he was admitted into a hospital in Obalende when he showed Ebola virus symptoms.

The Liberian-born American came into contact with 59 people in both the Murtala Mohammed International Airport and the hospital. Eight of the hospital contacts were quarantined at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Yaba.

One of them, a matron, who died on Tuesday became the first Nigerian casualty. Five others, including a female medical doctor, had as of Wednesday, tested positive to the virus. The Liberian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nurudeem Mohammed, told journalists in Abuja that President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson, was deeply sorry that Sawyer brought the virus to Nigeria.

He said that the deceased was under surveillance in Liberia but that he sneaked into Lagos. Mohammed said, “The Liberian President has personally called to apologize on the unfortunate development. “She specifically said her country had declared a state of emergency over the Ebola epidermic in Liberia. ‘She equally apologized that Sawyer ignored medical advice and escaped out of Liberia.”