Ayo Oyoze Baje
Coming at a time that Nigeria’s health workers, under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions are on strike, the recent warning of a likely Ebola virus outbreak given by Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo must be taken seriously, by all and sundry. Precisely during the recent meeting of the Federal Executive Council, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, disclosed that another outbreak of the deadly virus has been recorded in a particular district of the Democratic Republic of Congo, (DRC) over the past one month.
Sad to note that out of the 19 suspected cases, 16 have so far died of viral haemorrhagic fever! Furthermore, it was discovered that the blood samples of two out of the five patients taken recently tested positive for Ebola virus. This vital information has informed the Federal Government’s directive of the surveillance of the country’s land and sea borders. What makes this worrisome is the fact that we have several porous borders, many of which are unmanned as well as the parlous health status of the country when even Mister President is off to Britain for another medical checkup! Something urgent has to be done.
Taking proactive measures is one, as prevention is cheaper than cure. It would be recalled that yours truly raised an alarm over a related issue through an essay titled: ‘Ebola virus-a clear and present danger!’ as published in Daily Independent of July 26 2014. As at then, the deadly Ebola virus had already killed 660 people across the West African sub-region. And it made inroad into Nigeria when a 40-year old Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, boarded a plane to the country despite having a high fever. He was said to have vomited during the ill-fated flight before dying in Lagos, Nigeria.
Unfortunately, he came in contact with Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh. She was the lead physician and endocrinologist at the private hospital in Lagos, who was able to diagnose, contain and resist pressure from officials to release Sawyer, in July 2014. However, because the health system was not prepared for an outbreak at the time, she contracted Ebola and died. “ Her heroic efforts prevented a major outbreak in the most populous African country and served as the catalyst for successful government action”.
According to the then Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, it was the first case of Ebola virus to be confirmed in Nigeria. Back then, the virus had already hit Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, infecting 1,093 people. The ministry of health had raised an alarm on July 22, 2014 about a suspected case of Ebola Virus. It was commendable that a laboratory test was carried out on the victim at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) to confirm the presence of the virus and prompt action was taken to decontaminate the corpse before burial.
So, what should the government be doing right now, beyond giving out warning? It should borrow a leaf from what transpired during the Jonathan-led administration. Immediately the first case was reported the Federal Ministry of Health, working with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) international health regulations ensured that global standards were upheld. Besides, all the airports and sea ports were put on red alert.
There was a proactive synergy between the Lagos State government under Barrister Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) and the Federal Government, not minding political differences. There was sustained public enlightenment. Nigerians, both at home and those traveling from the neighbouring West African countries, were kept abreast of the preventive measures to take as well as the symptoms to look out for.
Not a few Nigerians got to know that so deadly is the virus that both oral rehydration therapy and provision of intravenous fluids to victims cannot mitigate its potency. The disease has a high rate of death possibly up to 90% of its helpless victims. It typically occurs in outbreaks and in tropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa. About,1000 people a year have been infected between when it was first identified in 1976 and 2012.
The disease was first identified in the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Efforts are ongoing to develop a vaccine; however, none existed as at 2014.What is alarming is increasing spread in the West African sub-region as well as the escalating wave of deaths associated with it. For instance, the only infected person in Zaire back in 1977 died recording 100 per cent. Gabon was hit in 1996 with 68 per cent casualty. In 2002, 97 out of the 124 recorded cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo died.
That was 78 per cent. It was Gabon again in 2003 with 128 out of the 143, representing 90 per cent of the victims kissing the dust. In 2008, 15 out of the32 people infected in the Democratic Republic of Congo went into their early graves. From Kibaale in Western Sudan in 2012 with 71 per cent deaths of the 24 victims, it has ravaged Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia hitting an average of 60 per cent deaths.
The increasing fear about its spread is traceable to some salient factors. One is that our borders are porous. Infected persons may. therefore, find easy access into the country. The second reason is that of decrepit infrastructure combined with lack of qualified personnel, effective drugs, state-of-the art equipment in many clinics and hospitals across the country. Another source of anxiety is that of self-medication amongst a largely rural populace where the twin evils of poverty and ignorance prevail.
And looking at the symptoms, from all available records, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) or Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (EHF) is the human disease caused by Ebola viruses. Symptoms start 2 days to 3 weeks after contracting the virus with a fever, throat and muscle pains, as well as headache. Next comes nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea simultaneously with decreased functioning of the liver and kidneys. At this point, some people begin to have problems with bleeding.
Monkeys and fruit bats are the vectors that carry and transmit this deadly virus. Any contact with their blood or body fluid leads to infection. It is intriguing that the fruit bat which carries the virus is not affected by its potency! Once infected, the disease may be spread from one person to another. Men who survive may be able to transmit the disease sexually for nearly two months.
According to information from Wikipedia, “prevention involves decreasing the spread of the disease from infected monkeys and pigs to humans. This may be done by checking these animals for infection and killing and properly disposing of the bodies if the disease is discovered. Properly cooking meat and wearing protective clothing when handling meat may be helpful, as may wearing protective clothing and washing hands when around someone sick with the disease.
Samples from people with the disease should be handled with an extra degree of caution.”
For now, government must be proactive in ensuring that Nigerians are made aware of the dangers posed by this virus, its symptoms and preventive measures even in the local languages. A stitch in time saves nine.