Two More Nigerians Contract Ebola As WHO Declares Health Emergency

The Nigerian government has confirmed that two more people have contracted the Ebola virus disease.Minister of Health, Professor Oyebuchi Chukwu had earlier confirmed the death of a nurse who attended to Liberian ,Mr Patrick Sawyer , had died.Sawyer was the first Ebola –related death in Nigeria.
Chukwu confirmed two days ago that 7 people were infected.With the confirmation of two more victims today, it means the figure has risen to 9 known cases of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria.
The minister also expressed displeasure that some of the people government sought to confine to Lagos had moved away ,but he assured that they would be tracked.
He also said if there was the need to close the nation’s borders, he would swiftly advise that the step be taken.No such decision has been announced yet.
But International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS) has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to as a matter of urgency order the closure of Nigeria’s land and sea boarders, especially from West Coast of Africa to prevent further an influx of the deadly ebola disease victims and corpses into the country.
Chairman of TIEMS Nigeria/West Africa Chapter, AVM Muhammad Audu-Bida (retired) made the appeal in a press statement issued in Abuja today.
According to Audu-Bida, “it is high time we reconsider our stance as declared by the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro last week that an isolated case is not enough to shut the nation’s borders against its neighbours. Now that the Federal Government has declared an emergency over ebola disease, we must as a matter of utmost urgency close the borders from countries that are worst affected so as to manage the cases that we have at hand”
He noted that many other countries are already taking extra-ordinary precautions to protect their citizens from the spread of the disease and lamented the wickedness of the late Liberian Government official, who despite being aware that he was infected with the virus still insisted on coming to Nigeria and even deliberately passing the virus to health workers at the Lagos hospital by urinating on their bodies.
The TIEMS Chairman cited Saudi Arabia which announced that it will not allow pilgrims from West Africa into its territory during the 2014 holy pilgrimage. United States, Britain and other countries are also watching tourists from West Africa very closely so as to prevent carriers of the disease from entering their country.
In addition, Audu-Bida called on the Federal and state governments to make efforts to ensure that designated hospitals for the treatment of the disease are well equipped so that health workers and volunteers will be well protected from catching the disease.
He called on Nigerians to heed the warnings being given by government functionaries to protect themselves from contacting the virus by washing their hands regularly and observing basic rules of hygiene as the Ebola virus can be killed simply with soap and warm water.
However, the former Director general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) advised against panic as he said that there were no evidence yet that the virus could be spread by air except by being directly coming in contact with body fluids of an affected patient.
Continuing further, he said Ebola is not spread in the air as it spread through direct contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids such as blood, sweat, vomit or faeces.
Symptoms of Ebola are much like the flu: fever; headache; joint and muscle aches; sore throat; weakness; diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain.
In some cases, the disease causes rashes, red eyes, and hiccups.
Also,Nigerians have been urged to disregard rumours being circulated in the Social Media that bathing with hot water and salt cures the Ebola Virus Disease.
Information Minister Mr. Labaran Maku debunked the speculation in a statement issued by his C‎hief Press Secretary, Joseph Mutah.
Mr. Maku said there was no cure yet for the Ebola Virus Disease and urged Nigerians to maintain maximum environmental and personal hygiene to guard against contracting the deadly virus.
Meanwhile ,the World Health Organization has declared the Ebola virus as Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have been met.
A WHO statement said “It was the unanimous view of the Committee that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have been met.
WHO recalled that “The current EVD outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013. This outbreak now involves transmission in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. As of 4 August 2014, countries have reported 1 711 cases (1 070 confirmed, 436 probable, 205 suspect), including 932 deaths. This is currently the largest EVD outbreak ever recorded.”