With quick and coordinated action by some of its top doctors, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, appears to have contained its first Ebola outbreak, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.

As the epidemic rages out of control in three nations only a few hundred miles away, Nigeria is the only country to have beaten back an outbreak with the potential to harm many victims in a city with vast, teeming slums.

“For those who say it’s hopeless, this is an antidote — you can control Ebola,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the C.D.C.


Although officials are pleased that success was achieved in a country of 177 million that is a major transport and business hub — and whose largest city, Lagos, has 21 million people — the lessons here are not easily applicable to the countries at the epicenter: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Public health officials in those countries remain overwhelmed by the scale of the outbreak and are desperate for additional international assistance.

Nigeria’s outbreak grew from a single airport case, while in the three other countries the disease smoldered for months in remote rain-forest provinces and spread widely before a serious response was mounted.

Ebola, Dr. Frieden said, “won’t blow over — you have to make a rapid, intense effort.”

While the danger in Nigeria is not over, the health minister, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said in a telephone interview that his country was now better prepared, with six laboratories able to make diagnoses and response teams and isolation wards ready in every major state.

After the first patient — a dying Liberian-American — flew into Lagos on July 20, Ebola spread to 20 other people there and in a smaller city, Port Harcourt.

They have all now died or recovered, and the cure rate — 60 percent — was unusually high for an African outbreak.

Meanwhile, local health workers paid 18,500 face-to-face visits to repeatedly take the temperatures of nearly 900 people who had contact with them. The last confirmed case was detected on Aug. 31, and virtually all contacts have passed the 21-day incubation period without falling ill.

The success was in part the result of an emergency command center financed in 2012 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to fight polio. As soon as the outbreak began, it was turned into the Ebola Emergency Operations Center.

Also, the C.D.C. had 10 experts in Nigeria working on polio and H.I.V., who had already trained 100 local doctors in epidemiology; 40 of them were immediately reassigned to Ebola and oversaw the contact tracing.

The chief of the command center, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, gave credit to a coordinated effort by the Health Ministry, the C.D.C., the World Health Organization, Unicef, Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee for the Red Cross.

Also, he noted, Nigeria has significant advantages over poorer countries where the outbreak is out of control.

It has many more doctors per capita, some educated abroad at top medical schools.

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It has standing teams of medical investigators, with vehicles and telephones, who normally trace outbreaks of other ills like cholera or Lassa fever.

Lagos University Teaching Hospital was able to do Ebola tests in six hours.

The hospitals where patients were isolated were equipped to do tests for electrolytes and blood proteins, both of which must be kept in balance as patients are fed orally or intravenously to replace fluids lost to diarrhea and vomiting.

And air-conditioned hospitals let people wearing protective gear work longer without overheating.

Nigeria also had some luck. Although the first patient, a businessman named Patrick Sawyer, was vomiting on his flight in, none of the roughly 200 others on the plane fell ill. Others did after helping him into a taxi to a hospital.

And a patient in Port Harcourt went to her church and became violently ill during a ceremony in which the congregation laid hands on her. But none became infected.

Dr. Sue Desmond-Hellmann, the Gates Foundation’s chief executive, said she was “heartened to see this positive result of the efforts of so many in Nigeria.”

On July 17, Mr. Sawyer defied medical advice and left a hospital in Monrovia, Liberia, where he was being held for observation after caring for his sister, who died of Ebola, although it was unclear whether he knew what she had.

Nigerian news reports said he used Liberian government contacts for permission to leave, flying to Lagos by way of Ghana and Togo. He planned to go to an economic development conference there and then fly back to Coon Rapids, Minn., for his children’s birthdays, according to media interviews with his widow.

Taken to a small private hospital after he collapsed, he denied any contact with Ebola victims and was initially treated for malaria. He died on July 25.

“That hospital had zero infection control,” Dr. Frieden said.

A nurse who helped reinsert an IV line when Mr. Sawyer was delirious and bleeding wore no gloves, had a cut on her hand and did not wash it, he said. She later died.

After malaria treatment failed, Ebola was “high on the index of suspicion,” Dr. Shuaib said.

He learned about Mr. Sawyer’s diagnosis as he sat chatting in his office with a colleague.

“I thought: ‘Oh, my God, not Nigeria. Not Lagos.’ I knew the potential for it to spread in a densely populated place.”

Even though the emergency center swung into action quickly and aggressive contact tracing was possible because Nigeria’s Port Health Services obtained records of Mr. Sawyer’s travel, there were still problems.

It took 14 days, Dr. Frieden said, for the first isolation ward to open in a former tuberculosis ward.

“Health workers initially wouldn’t go in,” he said. “They were afraid. We ultimately trained 1,800 staff.”

Wards were reconfigured to add space between beds, put in washing stations with chlorinated water and create rooms where doctors and nurses could carefully don and remove protective gear. The worked in teams of two so they could watch each other and prevent mistakes.

Also, according to a C.D.C. study released Tuesday in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, inaccurate news media reports before the government began offering official information “created a nationwide scare.”

Sales of false cures, including “Blessed Salt,” shot up, and two Nigerians died of drinking large amounts of saltwater.

But Dr. Shuaib emphasized that even terrified Nigerians did not deny the virus’s existence or attack health workers, as happened in the other countries. “No conspiracy theories entered the debate,” he said.

Nigeria’s success shows how important preparation is, said Dr. Frieden, adding, “Some countries that could well be the next Lagos still don’t have a clue about how to deal with this.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/health/ebola-outbreak-in-nigeria-appears-to-be-over.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0

Booking....

yeye country!
Fools, your time is past already.

In as much as we dont pray for these things, we need to prepare for them.
Africans see preparations for such as bad omen, as though equiping yourself against an impending disease would provoke amadioha or some other gods to unleash the disease on us.

I wonder how many countries in west Africa are taking concrete efforts to prevent an outbreak.
Yea most airports have diagnostic equipments but really? you think a middle income earner from lagos would take a flight into Benin republic when he could save cost by going through land? Are the boarders equipped for such scenerios? I keep imagining how we would have traced the traveling records of sawyer if he had come through land, considering most of these transport companies dont even have good records.

It worked in Nigeria because everybody was United and nobody took pleasure in this National Catastrophe/epidemics unlike our battle to defeat Boko Jihadists which challenges have turned to campaign slogan for political neophytes who resort in demonizing our Military and Security Establishments for political purposes.

The chief of the command center, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, gave credit to a coordinated effort by the Health Ministry, the C.D.C., the World Health Organization, Unicef, Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee for the Red Cross.

I remember the day Berem and Obiagelli, my kin sisters and NgeneUkwenu alias Cleverly my dear brother called for Prof Onyebuchi's summary dismissal for no just cause than opportunism.

Blind Social Critics and self-acclaimed political analysts deceiving innocent and gullible Nigerians over time.

Ngwakwe: It worked in Nigeria because everybody was United and nobody took pleasure in this National Catastrophe/epidemics unlike our battle to defeat Boko Jihadists which challenges have turned to campaign slogan for political neophytes who resort in demonizing our Military and Security Establishments for political purposes.




I remember the day Berem and Obiagelli, my kin sisters and NgeneUkwenu alias Cleverly my dear brother called for Prof Onyebuchi's summary dismissal for no just cause than opportunism.

Blind Social Critics and self-acclaimed political analysts deceiving innocent and gullible Nigerians over time.

Ngwakwe, ole mgbe m kwuru otu ahu?

berem: Ngwakwe, ole mgbe m kwuru otu ahu?

In one of Obiagelli's threads

Ngwakwe:

In one of Obiagelli's threads

link please!

I heard Barack Obama has called Goodluck Jonathan at least 12 times today for guidance on preventing an Ebola Outbreak in the USA........... and Goodluck was like : I am busy at the parade ground

berem: link please!

Though you case is forgiveable because your opinion was based on obfuscation of facts by contributors on the said thread

I suppose its Obiagelli's signature thread assuming my memory kept track of the debate.

www.nairaland.com/1851308/gejs-incompetence-kill-us-all

Ngwakwe:

Though you case is forgiveable because your opinion was based on obfuscation of facts by contributors on the said thread

I suppose its Obiagelli's signature thread assuming my memory kept track of the debate.

www.nairaland.com/1851308/gejs-incompetence-kill-us-all

ok seen!

Happy independence to you!

this event just lays credence to the fact that as nigerians, we are a blessed breed and if we really want to get things done, we can.

berem: ok seen!

Happy independence to you!

Wishing you the same

Nigeria has the potential to become world power next to America and Russia, if only there was any form of motivation from the Government, the world would 've been amazed at what we could 've achieved. GOD isn't an AMERICAN as erroneously being speculated, HE IS A NIGERIA, BORN AND BRED SOMEWHERE IN ANAMBRA STATE!



GOD BLESS NIGERIA

This goes to show that change lies in our hands. God has blessed us with everything! What's required is selfless, honest ,great leaders and law abiding / patriotic citizens

adegwurulez: In as much as we dont pray for these things, we need to prepare for them.
Africans see preparations for such as bad omen, as though equiping yourself against an impending disease would provoke amadioha or some other gods to unleash the disease on us.

I wonder how many countries in west Africa are taking concrete efforts to prevent an outbreak.
Yea most airports have diagnostic equipments but really? you think a middle income earner from lagos would take a flight into Benin republic when he could save cost by going through land? Are the boarders equipped for such scenerios? I keep imagining how we would have traced the traveling records of sawyer if he had come through land, considering most of these transport companies dont even have good records.

Me: Iyawo let me teach you 911 and how to use it.

Iyawo (recent U.S. arrivee): Ki lo njebe?

Me: So you dial 911 in case of any emergen....

Iyawo: Na lie, e no go be my portion, God forbid.

Me: groan....

Lagos with Teeming slums?
Very typical of them, they cant sneeze without masturbatting about the percieved poverty and suffering in Africa.

Call me a broken record, I won't stop trumpeting about the need for west Africans and other Africans to tell their own stories from a healthy perspective and hear their own stories from indigenous progressive mouths.

Nigerdeltaboi: I heard Barack Obama has called Goodluck Jonathan at least 12 times today for guidance on preventing an Ebola Outbreak in the USA........... and Goodluck was like : I am busy at the parade ground

USA don enta 1chance

Valfrankie: Nigeria has the potential to become world power next to America and Russia, if only there was any form of motivation from the Government, the world would 've been amazed at what we could 've achieved. GOD isn't an AMERICAN as erroneously being speculated, HE IS A NIGERIA, BORN AND BRED SOMEWHERE IN ANAMBRA STATE!



GOD BLESS NIGERIA

There is a mix up somewhere, He is from Asaba

Many holes & deviations in that report. Instead of giving honour & respect to Nigeria the keep twisting the fact...smh

I guess it was time to start publishing Nigeria's so called success story to ease the growing panic about the first bonafide ebola case in the US.

"If those Africans could do it, we shouldn't have any worries since we are 100% more organized than they are!"

Yeah I can see through NY Time's bullsh*t.

fr3do: Lagos with Teeming slums?
Very typical of them, they cant sneeze without masturbatting about the percieved poverty and suffering in Africa.

Call me a broken record, I won't stop trumpeting about the need for west Africans and other Africans to tell their own stories from a healthy perspective and hear their own stories from indigenous progressive mouths.

This was put in there for systemic, media orchestrated reason.

If we don't have anything to celebrate today being independence, we can at least celebrate this feat.

Nigerdeltaboi: I heard Barack Obama has called Goodluck Jonathan at least 12 times today for guidance on preventing an Ebola Outbreak in the USA........... and Goodluck was like : I am busy at the parade ground

if everybody was united the way we were to fight Ebola by now BH would have been history. God bless Nigeria.
GEJ till 2019

chulla12:

This was put in there for systemic, media orchestrated reason.

Poverty poorn

fr3do: Lagos with Teeming slums?
Very typical of them, they cant sneeze without masturbatting about the percieved poverty and suffering in Africa.

Call me a broken record, I won't stop trumpeting about the need for west Africans and other Africans to tell their own stories from a healthy perspective and hear their own stories from indigenous progressive mouths.

What did u expect?... the article most be spiced with nativity, so as to maintain their long rhetoric line"lagos is a slum" just to portray Nigeria in bad light

Goldmind1: yeye country!
Fools, your time is past already.

Okay thanks.
which are you by the way, Ghanian or S.A? the former I guess.

And a patient in Port Harcourt went to her church and became violently ill during a ceremony in which the congregation laid hands on her. But none became infected.

Miracle working God. Even though we walk in valley of the shadow of death............

Sales of false cures, including “Blessed Salt,” shot up, and two Nigerians died of drinking large amounts of saltwater.

Business acumen taken to an unfortunate dimension.

But Dr. Shuaib emphasized that even terrified Nigerians did not deny the virus’s existence or attack health workers, as happened in the other countries. “No conspiracy theories entered the debate,” he said.

Nigeria, GOOD PEOPLE, GREAT NATION!

Even in the face of many ills bedevilling us, there are still reasons to respect Nigeria. God bless Nigeria!

Ngwakwe: It worked in Nigeria because everybody was United and nobody took pleasure in this National Catastrophe/epidemics unlike our battle to defeat Boko Jihadists which challenges have turned to campaign slogan for political neophytes who resort in demonizing our Military and Security Establishments for political purposes.




I remember the day Berem and Obiagelli, my kin sisters and NgeneUkwenu alias Cleverly my dear brother called for Prof Onyebuchi's summary dismissal for no just cause than opportunism.

Blind Social Critics and self-acclaimed political analysts deceiving innocent and gullible Nigerians over time.

1. Back in April, the FG of Nigeria lied to Nigerians and the world that Nigeria was ready to tackle Ebola and that we have vaccines that doesn't exist.

2. Their incompetence and lack of care threatened Nigerians by not only failing to put in place Ebola policy measures and Ebola fighting tools and equipment, but also trained folks at our point of entries that should have detected and prevented the Liberian man from entering the country especially with the virus ragging in parts of West Africa.

3. We managed to tackle the virus in Nigeria because sensible and dedicated people like Fashola did everything in their power not only to fight the virus, but also gave support and comfort to the sick and survivors.

4. When the FG minister was giving daily press conference, the Lagos state government was building isolation units, staffing and equipping their hospitals to rut tests and detect virus and monitoring contacts .

5. After the not so Ebola outbreak, we still have to move forward with other proactive measures to prevent similar situations and also integrate the survivors back into the society with love and support.

6. I posted pics of Fashola setting up special isolation units in Lagos that curtailed the virus which the usual ignorant characters and bigots on NL trashed endlessly.

7. The Lagos state government and legislature made available funds to fight the disease while your FG was making fake promises about funds that didn't show up. Thank God the state government didn't wait and sit around for some fake funds from ABuja.

Now, who's out there showing love and support? Who is welcoming, hugging and laughing with the survivors?

We got lucky because of the hard working, sensible, proactive and dedicated folks in Lagos state including the first responders and medical doctors including the brave ones that paid the ultimate price for keeping us safe..

Back to last April again..

This lying and incompetent FG left us exposed and vulnerable with their lies that Nigeria was ready to fight Ebola and that they have Ebola vaccines that doesn't exist anywhere on the surface of the earth.

We remain in danger because the same ignorant, uneducated and incompetent people are still running the country...