The deadly virus which has killed over 700 victims since February and infected more than thousands majorly in Liberia,sierra Leone and Guinea has created a major news. Recently, a Liberian who traveled from Lome,Togo to Lagos,Nigeria by flight some few days back and diagnosed to have contracted the virus have given the world a great concern as it could spread across the world easily by just travelling. Ebola virus is known to be mostly found in remote areas that are more exposed to bush animals but the case of Nigeria's mega city containing over 20 million people has kept the world with mixed reactions. The disease which is contracted by close or direct contact with infected patient currently has no vaccine and no cure. It kills more than 90% of the victims and once the symptoms appear,it is contagious. Nigeria is currently examining 59 people who are suspected to have made contact with the Liberian victim and since then, no case of the virus has been recorded.
World Health Organisation revealed that the risk of infection from travelers is low as it could only be contracted by close or direct contact which involves bodily fluid but cases have been recorded where health workers and physician get the disease in the process of treating patients despite the protective measures.
Now many countries are now carrying out preventive measure . Hong Kong has started her process of prevention. A patient who was eventually tested negative of the disease was said to have formerly traveled to Africa, not even in any of the country where the virus is predominant, but was reported to have had symptoms similar. Hong Kong went on red alert after the media reported the case.
UK is another example who found a man from Birmingham
showing symptoms related to EVD after his trip to Nigeria, he was cleared of
the disease and immediately, Phillip Hammond, the British Foreign secretary,
summoned a meeting on how to put a stop to the spread of the disease
ascertaining that there has been no British National currently infected and no
such case in the UK, and warning all UK doctors to be red alert on any case of
such.
The US Centre for
Disease and Control has issued a Level 2 alert for the disease as it was
claimed that there is a lower chance of the disease spreading outside Africa.
Nevertheless, the agency has called on health workers to look out of such
symptoms similar to that of the disease and not take with levity. The Liberian
victim who died in Nigeria was said to be planning another trip to the US later
this month before he was noticed to have contracted the virus.
Even in Africa(particularly West),ASKY, African -base Togo airline which has suspended all it flights to and from the capitals of Sierra Leone and Liberia. i feel Nigeria should do the same to avoid further threat of this virus. Nigeria is know to have been taking things with levity and I'm sure with this warning from the case of the Liberian man, Nigeria will sit tight and put more effort to tackle its spread. God Bless The World
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