New Delhi, Aug 13 Seeking to distance itself from the case, the government Wednesday said the issue of four Indian doctors in Nigeria wanting to return home due to an alleged Ebola scare was a matter between the doctors and the Indian-run and owned hospital and that the doctors were free to leave.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin at a press briefing also clarified that there was no case of Ebola in the Nigerian capital Abuja, where Primus Hospital is located.
He said there were a few cases of the disease in Lagos, which was several hundreds of miles away.
The spokesperson said it was not a diplomatic matter concerning India and Nigeria, and with the hospital being Indian and the doctors also Indian, the doctors had the choice to leave their jobs.
He said the four doctors were in touch with Indian High Commissioner A.R. Ghanshyam and they have also met him.
The Indian mission there has also not issued any advisory for Indians to leave Nigeria due to the outbreak of Ebola, which is spread by exchange of body fluids and can lead to death.
Around 1,000 people have died so far due to the Ebola outbreak that has hit the west African countries of, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Nigeria has also reported some cases.
The spokesperson said that if the doctors feel their health was in jeopardy and want to leave that country, the Indian High Commission will try to find out a way to help them.
He also said the Indian mission would take up the issue of the passports of the four men being taken away.
“We are trying to find a solution in a crisis-ridden situation,” he added.