Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, yesterday said the number of confirmed Ebola cases is now 13 as one other patient is ready for discharge.
In a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Communications, Mr. Dan Nwomeh, the minister stated that the total number of confirmed cases, including the index case, was 13. He explained that the 14th case, initially announced as positive turned out to be a false positive.
Giving an update on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, the minister restated that the total number of deaths due to Ebola Virus Disease (including the index case) remained five, saying: “Total number of EVD patients currently under treatment in the isolation ward ward is now three.”
He said one of the three persons currently under treatment was due for discharge after necessary protocols.
Meanwhile, Japan said yesterday that it is ready to provide a Japanese-developed anti-influenza drug as a possible treatment for the rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak.
Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, told reporters that Japan could offer favipiravir, developed by a subsidiary of Fujifilm Holdings Corp., at any time at the request of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The drug, with the brand name Avigan, was developed by Fujifilm subsidiary, Toyama Chemical Co., to treat new and re-emerging influenza viruses, and has not been proven to be effective against Ebola. Japan’s health ministry approved Favipiravir in March for use against influenza. Fujifilm is in talks with the US Food and Drug Administration, through a US partner, Medivector, to prepare for clinical test of the drug in treating Ebola, company spokesman, Takao Aoki, said.
He said Ebola and influenza viruses were the same general type, and a similar response could theoretically be expected from Ebola. “Favipiravir inhibits viral gene replication within infected cells to prevent propagation, while other anti-viral drugs often are designed to inhibit the release of new viral particles to prevent the spread of infection,” the company said.
“The company has enough stock of favipiravir for more than 20,000 patients,” Aoki said

Ebola : FG says 1 primary contact ready for discharge