Third person dies of Ebola fever in Nigeria

ABUJA, (Reuters) – – A member of staff of the West African regional body Ecowas has become the third person in Nigeria to die of Ebola fever, Ecowas said yesterday.

Jatto Asihu Abdulqudir, 36, a protocol assistant, had travelled to an Ecowas function in Nigeria with Liberian Patrick Sawyer, the man who brought Ebola to Nigeria last month. Abdulqudir later fell ill and was placed under quarantine.

The country has reported eight cases of Ebola since Sawyer arrived on July 20.

“The Commission wishes to reassure staff of all Community institutions all over the entire region that it is taking all necessary steps to guarantee their health and safety,” Ecowas said in a statement.

Separately, a nurse with Ebola, which she caught from Sawyer, skipped quarantine in Lagos and headed to her home in the southeastern city of Enugu, where she had contact with 20 other people, the government said on Wednesday.