According to a Premium Times report, the Liberian government was aware that Patrick Sawyer had probably contracted the Ebola virus, but he was cleared to travel anyway.
Documents have been obtained to show that Mr. Sawyer’s employers, ArcelorMittal, had suspended him after discovering that he had come in contact with his sister who died of the disease.
The company also issued an internal memo to inform its employees of the development. It read:
“A family member of an ArcelorMittal Liberia employee died on Tuesday, July 8th, in Monrovia due to a confirmed case of the Ebola virus,” the July 11 edition of Satellite, an internal newsletter of ArcelorMittal Liberia, said. “The employee had minimal contact with the victim, at the state where the virus was infectious.
“Doctors say the risk of potential transfer to any member of the ArcelorMittal staff or contractors is very low. The employee has submitted to the Ministry of Health for a medical examination for possible Ebola infection, and has also requested the Ministry of Health to make the result available to ArcelorMittal Liberia and its close affiliates.
However, despite the fact that he was being observed for infection, the Liberian Government, through its Deputy Finance Minister For Fiscal Affairs, Sebastian Muah, cleared Mr. Sawyer to travel to Nigeria for an ECOWAS convention inCalabar.
Premium Times reports that the deputy minister personally admitted approving the trip in an online discussion forum, where some Liberian citizens raised questions about his action and competence.
This report directly contradicts previous claims that Sawyer escaped from quarantine. Mr. Sawyer was severely ill when he arrived Nigeria and he was rushed to the First Consultant Hospital in Obalende, Lagos.
All current cases of Ebola in Nigeria have been linked to contact with the Liberian.
The company also issued an internal memo to inform its employees of the development. It read:
“A family member of an ArcelorMittal Liberia employee died on Tuesday, July 8th, in Monrovia due to a confirmed case of the Ebola virus,” the July 11 edition of Satellite, an internal newsletter of ArcelorMittal Liberia, said. “The employee had minimal contact with the victim, at the state where the virus was infectious.
“Doctors say the risk of potential transfer to any member of the ArcelorMittal staff or contractors is very low. The employee has submitted to the Ministry of Health for a medical examination for possible Ebola infection, and has also requested the Ministry of Health to make the result available to ArcelorMittal Liberia and its close affiliates.
However, despite the fact that he was being observed for infection, the Liberian Government, through its Deputy Finance Minister For Fiscal Affairs, Sebastian Muah, cleared Mr. Sawyer to travel to Nigeria for an ECOWAS convention inCalabar.
Premium Times reports that the deputy minister personally admitted approving the trip in an online discussion forum, where some Liberian citizens raised questions about his action and competence.
This report directly contradicts previous claims that Sawyer escaped from quarantine. Mr. Sawyer was severely ill when he arrived Nigeria and he was rushed to the First Consultant Hospital in Obalende, Lagos.
All current cases of Ebola in Nigeria have been linked to contact with the Liberian.
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