The World Health Organisation(WHO) is set to declare Nigeria Ebola free today, 20th october, 2014, since Nigeria has not had a confirmed case of Ebola for 42 days – or two incubation periods of 21 days. On Friday, WHO pronounced Senegal Ebola free after no new confirmed case arose after 42 days, which is the twice the target time for the incubation of the
disease.
The UN statement on friday that declared Senegal ebola free read:“WHO officially declares the Ebola outbreak in Senegal over and commends the country on its diligence to end the transmission of the virus,” The statement declaring Nigeria free is expected today as 42 days has passed without a new confirmed case. Nigeria was listed among countries being ravaged by ebola when the Liberian-American, Patrick
Sawyer arrived Lagos July 20th, 2014. The quick response of the Lagos state government and diligent health workers saved the nation from
mass ebola breakout which could have been the deadliest in history seeing as Lagos alone has a population of 21 million. It was a great achivement for Nigeria,combating ebola when doctors and health workers were on strike, without adequate water supply or hospital instruments.
The Nigerian achievement is being studied by other western nations in their fight against ebola. The US centre for disease control said “They acted aggressively, especially in terms of contact-tracing,” Initially about 900 people were monitored in Lagos State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State, where one contact of Sawyer, an ECOWAS protocol official,
Ibukun Olu-Koye, travelled after slipping surveillance. The ECOWAS official, was treated in an hotel room by Dr. Iyke Enemuo. While Olu-Koye
survived the disease, Enemuo died of same. About 1,800 people were trained to trace and monitor those at risk, as well as decontaminate
infected places and care for the sick. The EVD has killed about 4500 people since the recent outbreak in Guinea.
The WHO however warns against celebrations and urged health workers and officials to be on alert since ebola is still in West Africa. Airports and
Seaports and all other means of entering the country should be monitored to avoid another index case in Nigeria.
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