WASHINGTON (AFP) – US health authorities said Friday they are
sending extra personnel and resources to Nigeria, which has declared
a national emergency as it battles a deadly outbreak of Ebola for the
first time.
“We are starting to ramp up our staffing in Lagos,” US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention spokesman Tom Skinner told AFP.
“We are really concerned about Lagos and the potential for spread
there, given the fact that Lagos — and Nigeria for that matter — has
never seen Ebola.”
Nigeria became the fourth West African country involved in the largest
Ebola outbreak in history when a dual US-Liberian citizen who was
infected with Ebola traveled by plane to Lagos on July 20. He died
five days later.
Eight people who came in contact with him have been diagnosed with
Ebola, and two have died.
Ebola has killed 932 people in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and
Nigeria since March, and has infected more than 1,700 according to
the World Health Organization.
Experts say Ebola is out of control in West Africa, and the WHO on
Friday declared the epidemic an international health emergency and
appealed for global aid.
In Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan declared the control and
containment of the Ebola virus “a national emergency,” his office said
in a statement.
He urged people to avoid large gatherings, and approved the release
of $11.6 million to fund measures against the spread of the virus,
including setting up isolation centers and increasing screening at
borders.
- ‘With a fury’ -
Skinner said CDC personnel are in all affected countries, and that
several US personnel already on the ground in Nigeria.
“We helped the folks in Lagos set up an emergency operations center
similar to what we do here that can help with organizing the
country’s response to the outbreak,” he said.
The US development agency USAID also announced a $12-million
boost in aid to help curb the outbreak in West Africa. The funding will
be used to support CDC experts and Red Cross campaigns in affected
countries and to send equipment, including 105,000 sets of protective
gear for health workers.
Earlier this week, the CDC issued an all-hands alert that allows the
agency to direct more funding and staff to the crisis.
CDC chief Tom Frieden told lawmakers on Thursday that the agency
already has 200 staff working on Ebola response, planned to “increase
that number substantially.”
At the same hearing before a House subcommittee, Ken Isaacs of the
Christian aid group Samaritan’s Purse warned that the situation in
Nigeria was likely to worsen.
“Our epidemiologists believe that what we are going to see is a spike
in the disease in Nigeria,” said Isaacs, vice president of programs and
government relations.
“It will go quiet for about three weeks and when it comes out, it will
come out with a fury.”
The incubation period of Ebola is 21 days, meaning it can take that
long between initial exposure to the virus and the appearance of
symptoms.
People become contagious as soon as they begin exhibiting
symptoms, which include fever, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and
sometimes bleeding.
Ebola first emerged in 1976, and there are no treatments or vaccines
on the market.
- ‘Stronger every day’ -
A pair of American missionaries who fell ill with Ebola while treating
patients in Liberia were given an experimental serum.
Their health has improved, though experts say it is unclear if the
medication is the reason.
Kent Brantly, 33, and Nancy Writebol, 60, were flown out of Liberia
and are now being treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta,
Georgia.
“I am growing stronger every day, and I thank God for his mercy as I
have wrestled with this terrible disease,” Brantly wrote from his
isolation unit Friday.
“I held the hands of countless individuals as this terrible disease took
their lives away from them. I witnessed the horror firsthand, and I can
still remember every face and name.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/us-sends-staff-nigeria-response-ebola/

thanks to everyone who supports d fight against ebola

more importantly nija depends on FG to do more

d fight against ebola must b won IJN

“Our epidemiologists believe that what we are
going to see is a spike
in the disease in Nigeria,” said Isaacs, vice
president of programs and
government relations.
“It will go quiet for about three weeks and
when it comes out, it will
come out with a fury.”

Una see wetin I dey read so .

ResourceMan: ”“

Una see wetin I dey read so.

lol, calm down. By God's grace, it will go quite and never come out.

urhoboman: lol, calm down. By God's grace, it will go quite and never come out.

Amen, Amen and Amen. I no just fit shout AT ALLL!

one of those times...u c ur buddy, exchange handshake well..remember Ebola,rush n rub ur hand on ur jean trouser... BT u actuali shook him. may God save us...