Fresh Ebola cases recorded in Nigeria

Nigerian officials have confirmed two new cases of Ebola in Africa’s most populous nation.

Nigeria’s Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu said on Friday that the fresh cases were infected by their spouses, both medical workers who had direct contact with Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer.

Sawyer was hospitalized upon arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos from Liberia, but not immediately quarantined. He infected 11 others before he died on July 25.

Five people in Nigeria have died, five have recovered and four are being treated.

A total of 213 people are also being closely watched in the West African country for any signs of the disease.

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a national state of emergency over Ebola outbreak in the country, and approved 1.9 billion naira ($11.7 million) of emergency funds to contain it.

On Friday, the World Health Organization reported 2,615 confirmed or suspected cases of Ebola in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria, with 1,427 deaths.

The worst-affected country is Liberia with 624 deaths, while 406 have lost their lives in Guinea. The deadly disease has also killed 392 in Sierra Leone.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders says the Ebola epidemic is moving faster than authorities can handle the situation and it could take six months to bring under control.

The transmission of Ebola virus can happen through infected blood, feces, sweat, sexual contact or unprotected handling of contaminated corpses.