UPDATE on Ebola: OAU Student tests negative

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, has confirmed that the female student of the institution who was quarantined in Lagos on suspicion of having the Ebola virus has tested negative to the virus.

This was disclosed via a telephone interview between the Public Relations Officer of the OAU, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, and a Punch reporter on Thursday.

Olanrewaju said: “The preliminary result of the girl is out and she tested negative. Another test will be done tomorrow. The university will issue a statement on this later today”

The Rivers state born student was said to have had contact with Dr. Iyke Enemuo who died of the Ebola virus after treating an ECOWAS diplomat in a hotel room. They had contact at a naming ceremony for Enemuo’s baby.

She was one of those put under surveillance in Port Harcourt for 21 days but was certified okay having tested negative to the virus before making it back to school.

She however fell sick on Monday and at the university’s health centre she was admitted to have had contact with the late doctor. The obvious symptoms were similar to the EVD and that prompted the panic and rumour that she might have contracted the virus.

A second test has however been conducted in order to be double sure. The test result is yet to be out.