The Growing Alarm

The horrifying effects
of the dreaded viral disease, Ebola fever, dawned heavily on Nigerians on July 25 when a man, who took ill during a flight from Liberia to Nigeria, passed on at a private medical facility in Lagos.
The victim, Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian, was Nigeria’s first Ebola fever case. His death in Lagos expectedly disseminated shock waves around the country, particularly because of Nigeria’s ill-preparedness for the treatment of the disease and the strike action by medical doctors in the country which has led to the shutdown of the nation’s public hospitals.
Ebola disease is a frightening ailment. Its outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo in 2007 claimed over 2000 lives. This ailment is characterised by profuse bleeding from all body orifices including the eye, nose and rectum. It has exacted a huge toll in some West African countries. At the last count, it was reported that about 700 persons had died after contracting the fever in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
Since the confirmation of the death of the Ebola virus victim in Nigeria, the Federal and Lagos State Governments have been taking preventive measures to curb the spread of the infection in line with World Health Organisation, WHO, guidelines.
These include the decontamination of the hospital where he died, the cremation of the deceased person and the isolation of 59 medical and airport personnel who had contacts with him. It is reassuring that those steps were taken. This is because the disease, also known as Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, has no known cure.
However, the question on the lips of many Nigerians is: how did the victim enter the country without being screened? Where were the health officials at the border? This carelessness has exposed the underbelly of our screening processes for persons entering the country. It is expedient at this point that the government orders better surveillance by health authorities at our borders.
These officials must be properly trained and equipped to screen passengers who are suspected to be suffering from this lethal virus and other grave ailments that could endanger public health in the country. The Ebola virus is indeed a veritable danger to Nigeria and the world because of the ease with which it spreads and the swiftness with which it kills.
Therefore it is time our health authorities designed a viable response mechanism that will involve keeping infected persons out of the country and educate Nigerians on the possible sources of infection such as the consumption of infected bush meat and contacts with the saliva and body fluids of victims etc.
There is need for public education on the symptoms, which begin with headache, fever and sore throat and quickly progress to diarrhea, vomiting, body pains and bleeding from all body outlets. In view of this, every citizen has to be trained on what to do in suspected cases in order to stem possible spread. Also, Nigerians should be encouraged to observe personal hygiene.
Ebola is a medical emergency; that is why it is important to do everything to halt it in its tracks before it overwhelms us. The world has suffered a lot of epidemics such as bird and swine flu that claimed so many lives between 2005 and 2009. All hands must be on deck to avoid a repeat, and health authorities at all levels of government in the country must cooperate on this effort to avert a total Ebola virus epidemic.
There is a growing alarm over the Ebola virus globally, but our response has to be one of vigilance to prevent its spread in the country, not fear or panic. There is also a need for proper information management on the disease to avert panic, hysteria and possible stigmatisation of suspected cases, including unsubstantiated suggestions about the prevention, treatment, cure and spread of the virus. I don’t find anything wrong with seeking international help on the handling of this situation where it is needed.
In all, I urge scientists all over the world to expedite action on vaccines and a cure for this virus. The virus is a blight on West Africa that must be promptly contained. It is natural to worry, but I am optimistic that if the foregoing suggested measures are adopted by the authorities, the virus will be eliminated.

Arnold Alalibo