1. Lagos State Ministry of Health Surveillance and Biosecurity unit activities commenced 9pm 8/2/2020 with a team led by Dr Odufuwa Alimosho LG MOH, Dr Oni Mosan Okunola LCDA MOH, Mr Abdusalam Akindele DSNO Alimosho, Mr Akinfolarin Baruwa CDC Chairman Mosan Okunola LCDA and a Community Informant.
2. Osoba close or street was NOT found in Gowon Estate as speculated in the rumoured outbreak.
Using all available intelligence from the key community members (Ward focals, Councillors, motor bike riders, market women, bar tenders), programmatic implementation maps and Google maps, major streets in Gowon Estate were thoroughly searched.
We will continue our investigation today 9th Febuary with full cooperation from the DPO of the Nigeria Police force in Gowon Estate, through the intervention of the Chairman Mosan Okunola LCDA, who have promised to reinforce our surveillance team.
4. Search ended at 18 minutes past midnight on 9/2/2020
5. We shall increase our surveillance on hotels and other resort centers in Lagos.
Our investigation will be completed later today, after which a public briefing will be released by my office.
If this turns out to be fake news, it will have been a waste of human and other government resources and unnecessary inducement of panicking and anxiety in community caused by mischievous elements.
It also results in racial stigmatization. We shall commence all efforts to track down sources of intentional malicious news. This is considered to be a serious biosecurity offence.
Office of the Commissioner for Health.
Prof Akin Abayomi
Lagos State Ministry of Health.
