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EBOLA OUTBREAK: THE NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVE |
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Ebola virus has continued to ravage some parts of West Africa and just last week, a Liberian died of the disease in a private hospital in Lagos state,Nigeria. The Liberian who came into Nigeria aboard a flight was said to have shown signs of being critically ill while in the plane. Owing to the infectious state of the disease, the Nigerian authorities are trying to get in touch with those the recently deceased had contact with on and off the plane. They have had reasonable success with about 58 off the plane contact already identified and over a score of them tested with the positive news that non has contracted the disease so far. The deadly thing about this disease is that it could be contracted by merely getting in contact with the bodily fluid of a highly infected person or coming in contact with animal species that harbour the disease. Now, the Ebola virus disease is capable of affecting our environment in two ways. First, experts have advised that people should stay away from animal species suspected to be either the hosts or carriers and this include the fruit bat (which is believed to be the natural host), chimpanzees,monkeys and other related species but especially the primates. This has also led governments across the affected West African countries to warn their citizens against eating bush meats. It has forced people to stay off wild animals there by making the wildlife a bit safe for now. But on the other hand, it may threaten the life of some animals as some Nigerians have monkeys and some other dreaded species as pets and may now be forced to kill these animals. Again,due to the panic and tension occasioned by the disease, some people that house normal domestic animals may start killing the animals to make sure they are on the safe side. That has been my fear and to ensure that I help save these species that may be unnaturally endangered because of the Ebola outbreak, I visited the Anambra state commissioner for health,Dr. Josephat Akabuike, yesterday and interviewed him on the Ebola virus outbreak asking him particularly what the people should do and also the animal species that harbour the Ebola so that people don't waste animal species. He was happy with my visit and made mention of monkeys and aves(fruit bats) as animal species that should be avoided. I asked the commissioner how he perceived the panic caused by the disease amongst the Nigerian populace such that people no longer shake hands freely in the streets and he was very logical in his answer saying that "if the panic will make people to be away and anxious of this disease, I think it's a good thing". I have already written and forwarded the news of the interview to my university radio station,UNIZIK94.1FM, and it will be read later today. Also, I have been following up the latest developments on the outbreak and trying to keep abreast with the latest information and in this capacity, I was on my university radio station on Tuesday discussing the issues for 20-minutes and giving people the much needed information. I especially gave hope to everyone that listened by informing them that not everyone that contracted the disease died depending on the strain of the disease you contracted,the strength of your immune system and the dose of the virus you were exposed to. I considered it important to tell people via radio that contracting the virus does not mean a straight death because almost all media houses in Nigeria have ignored this side of the disease hence making the populace to believe that once the disease is contracted, it's all death. This is my own little way of helping my country in this trying times as a TUNZA Eco-Generation Ambassador to Nigeria and I hope to do more. I pray that this disease doesn't spread in Nigeria, as there is a suspected case already of a health worker that treated the dead Liberian. God save West Africa, God save Nigeria.
(NOTE: Ebola Virus photo is courtesy of Africa Check website) |
  
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8 Comments
Thank you for sharing detail information on ebola virus and its environmental effects.
I also pray for no further spread in Africa and rest of the world.
You did a great work with the interview and I feel so proud of you! Take care!
Posted 05-08-2014 08:02
Ebola is a deadly disease and inflicts high death tolls in Africa - it must be exterminated as soon as possible. Thanks for sharing!
Posted 04-08-2014 12:07
Well reported Udeh. You have spread the word in your university Radio station as well as in Tunza.
May God Almighty save & protect ALL.
Posted 03-08-2014 20:09
@Burton and @Azieh, we really to fight this off and soon. May God help us do so.
Posted 01-08-2014 02:47
@Arushi: Prevention is indeed better than cure and may God save the world at large.
Posted 01-08-2014 02:44
i am really worried man.we need to fight as a continent by putting preventive measures in place.
Posted 01-08-2014 01:30
nice pic this is really a serious problem for us here. we have been taking preventives measures to kick out that deadly virus
Posted 31-07-2014 19:31
Udeh , you are doing a good job by clarifying the myth that contracting the virus does not mean death. As prevention is better than cure so at such times people should be really careful while travelling (should travel only if it is absolutely necessary) , should be careful in eating animal meat as you said . All the best and May God save Nigeria and the world at large.
Posted 31-07-2014 16:50