Africa's most populous country
is scrambling to avoid the fate of nearby nations
that have failed to prevent the spread of the
deadly Ebola virus.
An epidemic could devastate Nigeria's economy
and overrun its meager health facilities. That's
why the country has taken drastic measures to
contain the spread of Ebola since Liberian-
American Patrick Sawyer brought the virus to
Lagos on a flight from Liberia on July 20.
The government has set up isolation centers for
potential carriers, established checkpoints at
border crossings and kept a close eye on anyone
who might have come into contact with infected
people. President Goodluck Jonathan declared a
national emergency last week and called on the
public to avoid large gatherings.
Lagos Health Commissioner Jide Idris
recommends that Nigerian families keep anyone
suspected of carrying the virus in one room. He
even suggested roping off rooms and boarding up
windows, so other family members and neighbors
aren't exposed.
"Our patients are being camped and fenced in
with planks to stop exposing others to a virus that
is difficult to deal with," he said this week. "We'll
not lose the war against Ebola. The government
will continue to take every step to check the
spread of Ebola in the country."
The Nigerian health system has scored at least
one victory, Idris noted. A Lagos doctor who
contracted Ebola from Sawyer recovered recently
from a short bout with the disease. "He has made
a dramatic recovery and has been discharged
from the isolation center," Idris said.
The commissioner said the country's creaky
health system would be hard-pressed to tackle a
widespread outbreak if the virus continues to
spread throughout the region at current rates.
The World Health Organization said Tuesday that
84 people in West Africa died from Ebola in three
days last week, Thursday through Saturday. Total
infections rose to 2,240 cases, including 1,229
deaths. Liberia confronts the worst outbreak, in
which there have been 466 deaths. In Guinea,
394 have died; Sierra Leone has had 365 deaths.
In Nigeria, despite the government's precautions,
15 cases have been reported, and four people
have died, including Sawyer.
The WHO said the situation in Lagos "looks
reassuring" because all those infected were tied
to health care workers or had direct contact with
Sawyer. Apparently he did not pass the virus to
passengers on his flight from Monrovia while he
was sick because the 21-day incubation period has
lapsed, the WHO said.
Idris said his country's health system can handle
the cases, but it's not clear what could happen if
an epidemic broke out. Even though a doctors'
strike ended last week after a month-long
walkout, many physicians have not returned to
work.
The shortage of medical personnel is especially
problematic, because many Nigerians are liable to
accept religious leaders' teachings on how to treat
the disease.
Last week, at least two people died and 20 others
were hospitalized in central Nigeria after they
consumed excessive quantities of salt and bitter
kola — a seed used as folk medicine — to ward
off the disease.
"We will not wait for the government to give us
wrong medicine and die of the virus," said Halima
Abubakar, who sells vegetables in Lagos. "We'll try
everything, even bathing with salt and traditional
herbs, to protect (from) the Ebola virus."
Nigerian Minister of Information Labaran Maku
has worked hard to counter the conspiracy
theories and superstitions.
"There is no cure yet for the Ebola disease," he
said. "People should ignore those in the social
media who say that bathing with hot water and
salt cures the Ebola disease."
Some Lagos churches under the auspices of
Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria have assembled
"prayer warriors" — devout people who pray for
others — to halt the virus.
"People should not get worried about the Ebola
virus, as it's just a name given to a disease like
many others," evangelist Emma Obiorah said.
"We'll pray together as a nation to ensure God
heals all."
Economist Bismarck Rewane, chief executive
officer of Financial Derivatives, an investment
firm in Lagos, said people need to take action, as
well as pray.
His company estimates that fears about Ebola
could force investors to hold off spending as
much as $3.5 billion in Nigeria by December
unless the government demonstrates its ability to
curtail the virus.
"The sectors of the economy that will be mostly
affected by the fear of the Ebola virus are
aviation, tourism and hospitality, trade, medical
and agriculture," he said.


Source:www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/08/19/ebola-nigeria-africa/14297767/