Fake Ebola Test Kits On Sale In Lagos

Some unscrupulous Nigerians are profiteering from the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, as they have begun the sale of fake Ebola Cassette Test Kits in Lagos, southwest Nigeria.

In view of this, the Lagos State Government on Tuesday alerted members of the public to the sale of the fake kits, warning them not to patronise the dubious marketers.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Mr Hakeem Bello, “the Ebola test kit, which is branded as ‘Rapid Response Canada with test results purportedly available in 10 minutes’ is a hoax.”

Bello warned that there are no Ebola test kits manufactured anywhere in the world, as the technique for its manufacture does not exist yet.Also, Lagos Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris lamented that some hospitals in Lagos have started to reject patients with feverish condition even without trace of Ebola just for fear that they might be having the disease.
“Rejection of febrile patients in hospitals without proper assessment constitutes another challenge, as same may also increase stigma and deter self-reporting. Not everybody with fever of haemorrhage has come down with EVD. A situation where untested cases are automatically referred to the Mainland General Hospital is not a good practice,” he said.