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Tag: Ebola

  • WHO chief says Ebola out of control

    WHO chief says Ebola out of control

    Conakry  – An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa is out of control but can be stopped with more resources and tougher measures, World Health Organization chief Margaret Chan said yesterday.

    The outbreak is the worst since the disease was discovered in the mid-1970s, with 729 deaths in four countries.

    “This outbreak is moving faster than our efforts to control it,” Chan told the presidents of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone at an emergency meeting in Guinea’s capital Conakry.

    “If the situation continues to deteriorate, the consequences can be catastrophic in terms of lost of lives but also severe socio-economic disruption and a high risk of spread to other countries,” she said, according to a WHO transcript.

    But the outbreak could be stopped and the public was not at high risk of infection, she said.

    Governments might need to restrict population movements and public gatherings, and use the police and civil defence forces to guarantee the security of response teams, she said.

    With healthcare systems struggling to cope, more than 60 medical workers have lost their lives, hampering efforts to tackle the disease.

    Two Americans working for aid group Samaritan’s Purse who contracted the disease in Liberia were in a serious condition and would be medically evacuated by early next week, the organisation said.

    Liberia has put in place measures including closing all schools and some government departments as well as possibly quarantining affected communities. Sierra Leone declared a state of emergency and called in troops to isolate Ebola victims.

    However, the leader of Guinea’s Ebola taskforce said his country would not be following these moves.

    “Some measures taken by our neighbours could make the fight against Ebola even harder,” Aboubacar Sidiki Diakité told Reuters, citing in particular the closure of schools.

    “When children are not supervised, they can go anywhere and make the problem worse.”

    The outbreak has prompted some international organisations to withdraw. The U.S. Peace Corps has said it was withdrawing 340 volunteers from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Samaritans Purse said on Friday it would complete the evacuation of its 60 international staff from Liberia over the weekend and WaterAid said on Friday it was suspending its operations there as well.

    The WHO is launching a $100 million response plan and the United States is providing material and technical support to the three countries. Further assistance will be discussed at a meeting in Washington next week.

    Chan said she was taking personal responsibility for coordinating international response efforts and mobilising the vast support needed to fight the virus.

    The WHO has convened an emergency committee on Aug. 6-7 to decide if the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern and to recommend measures to tackle it.

    “The demands created by Ebola in West Africa outstrip your capacities to respond,” Chan told the presidents.

    Chan said cultural practices such as traditional burials and deep-seated beliefs were a significant cause of the spread and a barrier to containment and needed to change.

  • Ebola: Two down with fever in Lagos after contact with victim

    Ebola: Two down with fever in Lagos after contact with victim

    The Lagos State Government on Friday said two persons out of those who had contacts with Mr. Patrick Sawyer, the dead Liberian Ebola victim, had manifested symptoms of fever.

    The Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, made the disclosure when he addressed newsmen on the update of the country‘s first Ebola case in Ikeja.

    Idris said the two persons were among the 70 contacts being monitored and investigated for any symptoms of the disease by the state government and other partners.

    The commissioner, who said the two cases were under observation, however stressed that they did not test positive  to the virus.

    Idris said the state government would continue to monitor all contacts with the victims until the end of the 21 incubation day  period of the virus.

    “Our Rapid Response Team is currently tracking all contacts of persons exposed to the dead passenger with Ebola virus.

    “The contract tracing team is following 70 contacts of the EVD case and linking them to clinical support when needed.

    “Two suspect cases had fever, they are under observation and so far have tested  negative to the virus.

    “The monitoring of suspect cases will continue until the end of the period of 21 days from their exposure to the victim,’’ he said.

    The commissioner said an emergency operation centre had been activated in Lagos ,by the state  and its partners as part of efforts to check the threat  of the virus.

    He added that the Federal Government had stepped up measures to screen incoming passengers to Nigeria to identify any traveler with symptoms through, airport, seaport and border crossing.

    Idris said a deceased body was recently brought to Nigeria from Liberia, explaining that the government was investigating if he died from Ebola.

    The commissioner urged residents to collaborate with government in checking the Ebola threat in the country by reporting suspected case for government‘s intervention.

    While saying diseases thrived well in dirty environments, Idris urged residents to maintain clean body and environment to reduce the risk of the virus.

    Also speaking. Prof. Abdul Salim Nasidi of the National Disease Control Centre said noted that though disease had no cure ,it was treatable.

    He warned members of the public against emphasizing that the virus had not cure,saying it might discourage those with suspected cases from accessing treatment.

    While saying the Federal Government was doing everything to check the threat of the disease,Nasidi urged citizens not to panic as no fresh case had been discovered yet in the country

  • Ebola: Fashola urges FG to shut borders with neighbouring countries

    Ebola: Fashola urges FG to shut borders with neighbouring countries

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has urged the Federal Government to shut the nation’s borders with neighbouring countries without delay to avert the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.

    The governor’s concern is coming on the heels of the controversy generated bythe case of a recent corpse from Liberia, said to have been routed through Lagos to Anambra State.

    Fashola, while speaking with Journalists yesterday, at Ikeja House, noted that, “This is no longer a local, but an international problem. This is because it is easily transmittable across the borders and boundaries. The Federal Government team has been working with the state team. I think what the Federal Government needed to do at this time is to consider the imperative of closing some of our borders.

    “It is difficult to stop this epidemic. We must now choose the treaty obligations that we hold under the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) treaty and perhaps short term benefits in terms of economic cost to human life.

    “We must make that choice and consider it very seriously. It is a national security issue. I think we should give it that attention. I think men and women who man our border posts-sea, air and land, especially the customs, now know that they are our first line of defence.”

    Fashola said there is no pretence about the issue of such importance, saying few West African countries who are at the epicenter of the virus pose danger to others.

    He said:“I believe some of the countries were Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. There is a risk to the entire sub-region. I like to appreciate all the health workers at the state level for the very professional manner they have responded while I was out of the country.”

    Giving update on the Ebola issue, Professor Abdulsalami Nasidi  of the National Center For Disease Control (NCDC) who briefed the press with Lagos State Government officials, allayed fears on possible outbreak from the corpse brought in from Liberia .

    He said, “All the handlers of the corpse brought into the country from Liberia will be registered and tracked. And those who accompanied the corpse to Anambra and the mortuary handlers are under quarantine in Anambra State.

    “Our team in Anambra State will tomorrow (today) give us the statistics of those who came in contact with the corpse.”

    On the collaboration with other countries, Nasidi explained that  the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Aviation and  the Federal Government will soon issue directives on matters of bringing corpse into the country.

  • Ebola scare: Anambra bans corpses from outside

    Ebola scare: Anambra bans corpses from outside

    •Six patients relocated from hospital housing suspicious corpse

    Corpses are henceforth barred from being taken into Anambra from outside the state,at least for now.

    This follows the scare triggered by the deposit of the corpse of a native of the state at the morgue of a private hospital at Nkwelle Ezunaka,in Oyi Local Government Area of the state.

    The man died in Liberia which,along with Guinea and Sierra Leone ,is waging a battle against an Ebola outbreak.

    The cause of the man’s death is yet unknown .

    The scare was partly on account of the death in Lagos last week  of a Liberian,Patrick Sawyer.

    Mr Sawyer died of the disease.

    Six patients  who were on admission in the Nkwelle Ezunaka hospital have been relocated to the  Umueri General Hospital in Anambra East Council Area.

    A  medical team  from the Federal Ministry of Health was being expected in the state yesterday  to investigate the cause of the man’s death.

    But as  a precaution,Governor  Willie Obiano yesterday ordered security agencies  in the state not to allow any corpse to be brought into the state from  outside.

    He said there was no confirmation yet that the man died of Ebola.

    The governor who addressed women  at the Women Development Centre ,Awka said only an investigation by experts could confirm the cause of the man’s death.

    Sources said security men yesterday prevented  relations of the deceased  from allegedly smuggling his corpse from the mortuary.

    It was also gathered that the six patients were removed from the hospital as a precaution.

  • We’ll prevent Ebola outbreak in Oyo – Govt

    We’ll prevent Ebola outbreak in Oyo – Govt

    The Oyo State Government has assured the people of the state that it has taken some steps to ensure the prevention of an Ebola disease outbreak in the state.

    A statement issued in Ibadan on Friday by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Muyiwa Gbedegesin said that the state government was working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministries of Health of the neighbouring states to prevent the outbreak of the disease.

    “All the disease surveillance and notification officers in all the local government areas have been alerted and sensitized to promptly respond to the outbreak,’’ it said, adding that a sensitization programme had been also been organized for a similar purpose.

    The statement also said that public enlightenment highlighting how to prevent Ebola Virus disease, its causes, mode of transmissions and steps to be taken in case of outbreak had already commenced in form of sensitization of traditional healers, religious and community members, as well as through airing of jingles and distribution of posters.

    It highlighted the signs and symptoms of the disease to include onset of fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, conjunctivitis, hiccups, dysphasia followed by vomiting, diarrhea and rash.

    While assuring the people of the state of effective monitoring of the situation, the state government, however, urged them to take any suspected case to the nearby public health facility for adequate care.

  • Ebola: Bush meat vendors close shops in Benin

    Ebola: Bush meat vendors close shops in Benin

    This is not the best of time for bush meat vendors in Benin, Edo State.

    Many of them have closed shop following reports that the virus may be contacted through wild animals.

    Consumers are also wary of buying what is considered in many homes as a delicacy.

    Vendors at Eki Osa, Uwa, new Benin and Yangan markets,  as well as those along the Benin / Auchi  Road  confirmed low patronage over the last few days.

    Low patronage is also being recorded by bush meat/palm wine joints.

    Mrs. Asosa Idemudia, a bush meat seller said: “the Ebola alert has scared people away from  consuming bush meat.”

    Another vendor, Mrs. Jane Ekinafo said: “since bush meat is believed to be a cause of the disease, I don’t want to touch it for now.

    “If you can contact it (Ebola) by eating an infected animal, it is possible that one who handles it for sale can also be infected.”

    Meanwhile, the Edo State Government said yesterday that there is no trace of the disease yet in the state, but advised residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious case to the nearest health facility.

    Health Commissioner Aihanuwa Eregie told reporters in Benin that  the state Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO)  have mounted  a surveillance in all parts of the state to ensure early detection of any infection and  timely containment and control of same.

  • No Ebola in Anambra—Obiano

    No Ebola in Anambra—Obiano

    Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra, said in Awka  yesterday,  that there was no case of Ebola virus in the state.

    Obiano made the clarification at the 2014 Mothers Summit and the inauguration of Caring Family Enhancement Initiative of Anambra First Lady, Mrs Ebele Obiano.

    Obiano’s statement came against the background of a reported case of the return of the remains of an Ebola victim from Liberia to Anambra.

    “There is no Ebola case in Anambra and by the Grace of God there will never be.

    “The rumour we have concerns one corpse that was brought from one of the West African countries.

    “On our own, we decided to take precaution. We were doing the proper thing to confirm that the corpse has nothing to do with Ebola.

    “As we speak, from preliminary reports we have so far, there is no Ebola incident in Anambra State.

    “I have told the police not to allow any corpse to be brought into Anambra by road or by air if the corpse does not have a certificate confirming the cause of death.

    “Wherever we see a corpse, we stop and find out what killed him/her before going further. It is only a precautionary measure by=a responsible government to protect our people.”

    In his address to the women, he urged them to participate actively in the political process, saying their role was critical to ensuring the nation’s stability and security.

    He also enjoined them to endeavour to obtain the Permanent Voter Cards, which he said, its distribution

    would commence on Aug. 16.

  • ‘Liberia, Sierra Leone moves may worsen Ebola spread’

    The leader of Guinea’s Ebola task force said on Friday that moves by neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone to contain the disease that has killed 729 people this year – its deadliest outbreak – may have the opposite effect.

    Liberia has put in place measures including closing all schools and some government departments as well as possibly quarantining affected communities. Sierra Leone declared a state of emergency and called in troops to isolate Ebola victims.

    “Currently, some measures taken by our neighbours could make the fight against Ebola even harder,” Aboubacar Sidiki Diakité told Reuters before a meeting of heads of state from the three West African nations to coordinate a regional response.

    “When children are not supervised, they can go anywhere and make the problem worse. It is part of what we will be talking about,” he said.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 57 new Ebola deaths on Thursday in the four days to July 27 in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria and said the number of cases had topped 1,300.

    WHO director general Margaret Chan will also attend the meeting in Guinea’s capital Conakry on Friday.

    The outbreak of the virus, for which there is no known cure, began in the forests of eastern Guinea in February, but Sierra Leone now has the highest number of cases.

    The haemorrhagic virus can kill up to 90 percent of those infected, though the fatality rate in this epidemic is about 60 percent. In the final stages, its symptoms include external bleeding, internal bleeding, vomiting and diarrhoea – at which point Ebola becomes highly contagious.

  • Nigeria begins screening for Ebola virus at airports

    Panic in Anambra over body 

    Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo ready to fight virus 

    World death toll 729

    S/Leone, Liberia declare emergency

    Nigeria has begun the screening of passengers entering the country through the airports.

    The World Health organisation (WHO) announced yesterday that the death toll from Ebola has topped 700 worldwide.

    In Anambra State, there was uproar following fears that a body brought in from Liberia is believed to be of a person who died from the virus.

    The mortuary where the body was deposited has been sealed by the state government.

    Twenty-five patients and the staff of the hospital have been quarantined while a specialist team from the Federal Ministry of Health were being awaited.

    Apart from Anambra, Edo, Bayelsa and Ondo states have taken preventive measures.

    Workers from various agencies operating at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja were yesterday sensitised by Port Health officials on the dangers posed by the virus and how to prevent its spread.

    The awareness campaign was to complement other measures already put in place by Port Health at the international airports to prevent the presence and spread of the virus in the country.

    Federal Ministry of Health’s Port Service Director  Sani Gwarzo urged Aviation stakeholders to be abreast of the dangers posed by the virus.

    Port Health officials have been deployed in Lagos and Abuja airports’ arrival halls to test passengers for symptoms of Ebola.

    Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said yesterday that it had started temperature screening passengers arriving from places at risk of Ebola. It has suspended pan-African airline ASky for bringing the first case to Lagos.

    “Screening and monitoring is being done at all major international airports. It entails checking passengers’ temperature with a hand-held machine,” NCAA spokesman Sam Adurogboye said, adding this meant for any journey that passed through Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone. A compulsory blood test would follow if a passenger’s temperature gives cause for concern, he said.

    International airlines association IATA said WHO was not recommending any travel restrictions or border closures due to the outbreak, and says there would be a low risk to other passengers if an Ebola patient flew.

    A holding area has been provided at the tarmac for suspected cases while index cases are expected to be isolated in a designated area outside the airport for further examination and treatment.

    The deaths of 57 more people from Ebola in West Africa have pushed the overall fatality toll from the epidemic to 729, the WHO said yesterday. The 57 deaths were recorded between Thursday and Sunday last week in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria where Patrick Sawyer, a consultant for Liberia’s Finance Ministry in his 40s, collapsed on arrival at the Lagos airport on July 20 on an ASky flight. He was put in isolation at the First Consultants Hospital in Obalende, but died early on July 25.

    The UN health agency said in a statement that 122 new cases were detected over those four days, taking the total number of confirmed and likely infected cases from the outbreak so far to 1,323. WHO said the trend in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone “remains precarious with ongoing… transmission of infection”.

    Guinea is suffering the worst from the disease, which causes often fatal bleeding and has no vaccine. The country’s authorities reported 20 more deaths, apparently from Ebola in the last four days of last week, taking its national fatility figure to 339.

    Liberia saw 27 more deaths, for a total national death toll of 156. Sierra Leone reported nine more deaths for a total 233 dead.

    “This is a major public health emergency. It’s fierce, deadly and many of our countrymen are dying and we need to act to stop the spread,” Lewis Brown, Liberia’s information minister, told Reuters. “We need the support of the international community now more than ever. We desperately need all the help we can get.”

    Security forces in Liberia were ordered to enforce the action plan, which includes placing all non-essential government workers on 30-day compulsory leave.

    The U.S. Peace Corps said on Wednesday it was temporarily withdrawing 340 volunteers from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea and that two of its volunteers had been isolated and were under observation after coming in contact with a person who later died of the Ebola virus.

    The Peace Corp has 102 volunteers in Guinea, 108 in Liberia and 130 in Sierra Leone working in education, health and agriculture.

    The State Department has confirmed that one U.S. citizen died from Ebola in Nigeria after being infected in Liberia. Two other American aid workers infected with Ebola, Dr. Kent Brantly and missionary Nancy Writebol, are in serious condition, but they have shown slight improvement. They were part of a team in Liberia from North Carolina-based Christian relief groups Samaritan’s Purse and SIM.

    White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters that President Barack Obama had been briefed on Tuesday by his homeland security adviser, Lisa Monaco, and that the White House was monitoring the deadly outbreak.

    “The CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has said this is not a risk to the United States at this time,” Schultz told reporters traveling with the president back to Washington from Kansas City, Missouri. He said the U.S. government had increased assistance to countries battling Ebola.

    Schultz said the White House would proceed with a planned U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington Aug. 4-6 that about 50 Africa leaders are expected to attend to discuss trade and investment between the United States and Africa.

    Liberia’s President Surleaf said she would not be attending the summit but that Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and a few cabinet ministers “whose presence are absolutely necessary” would attend.

    “We have no plans to change any elements of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit as we believe all air travel continues to be safe,” Schultz said.

    The body from Liberia was deposited in one of the hospitals in Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The state government has  directed security operatives to cordon off the mortuary where the body was deposited pending investigations by experts from the Federal Ministry of Health.

    The information on the suspected Ebola disease body from Liberia was relayed to the state government by a member of the community.

    Health Commissioner Dr. Josephat Akabuike said though it had not been confirmed that the man died of Ebola disease, there was need for precautionary measures.

    Akabuike said: “We have already contacted the Federal Ministry of Health and we are expecting them to arrive the state any time from now. We have sealed the mortuary and the hospital and all the bodies and the people working there have been quarantined.

    “We are also making efforts to locate the family of the deceased to know their level of contact with the body when it arrived the country and everybody who visited the mortuary will also be quarantined.

    “We are surprised how the body came into Nigeria and Anambra State. It is shocking to us.

    “We have directed the police to cordon off the area. Ebola is a very big threat and that is why we are taking all the measures,” Akabuike said.

    Bayelsa State has established health lines as part of measures to check possible spread of the deadly virus.

    Governor Seriake Dickson broke the news yesterday at the Peace Park, Yenagoa, during the commemoration of the 2014 World Hepatitis Day.

    Dickson, who was represented by Commissioner for Health Dr. Ayibatonye Owei, said the health lines were set up to enable people report cases similar to Ebola.

    He, however, assured people that there was no outbreak of Ebola in Nigeria, apart from an isolated case that occurred in Lagos.

    “We only have one case and by the grace of God there will not be an outbreak. We are  taking proactive measures to ensure that we don’t have an outbreak,” he said.

    But he advised the people to maintain high level of hygiene and to observe hand washing as part of their daily routine.

    “Operation wash your hands should start in Bayelsa. Whatever you are doing, wash your hands. Keep washing your hands because hand washing prevents many diseases”, he said.

    He told the people that Hepatitis B is a silent killer because the disease only becomes manifest at its final stages.

    Dickson, who inaugurated vaccination against Hepatitis B, however, said the diseases caused by hepatitis could be prevented by vaccination.

    “This will go a long way to reduce huge funds that would have been spent in treating the victims. It is for this reason that government has agreed to support this vaccination”, he said.

    Edo State Government said there was no trace of the deadly disease in the state. He, however, advised the people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious case to the nearest health facility.

    Commissioner for Health, Dr Aihanuwa Eregie, at a news conference yesterday, said the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO and other health partners, carried out disease surveillance in all parts of the state to ensure early detection of any outbreak and the timely containment and control of same.

    The commissioner said since a case of the Ebola Virus had been confirmed in Nigeria, there was need for everyone to be extra vigilant to prevent the virus in Edo State because of the highly contagious nature of the disease.

    Ondo State Commissioner for Health Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, at a one-day

    sensitisation meeting with public and private health practitioners, said the government would be proactive on the prevention of Ebola Virus.

    According to him, the state has designated three hospitals with facilities to quarantine any suspected case.

    The centres are Federal Medical Centre, Owo for the Northern Senatorial District, State Specialist Hospital, Akure for the Central Senatorial District and the State Specialist Hospital, Okitipupa to take care of the South.

    Besides, the state will train 30 barrier nurses who will be at the designated centres.

    According to Adeyanju, Public Health Care(PHC), Hospital Management

    Board(HMB), Ministry of Health and private practitioners will collaborate to fight the disease.

    “If we choose not to do anything, it may be more dangerous than Boko Haram. We must strengthen our surveillance; we should be on our toes to wage serious war against the disease in our state in particular and our country in general,” Adeyanju said.

  • Ebola toll hits 729 as Sierra Leone declares emergency

    Ebola toll hits 729 as Sierra Leone declares emergency

    Among the deaths this week from Ebola is that of the chief doctor treating the disease in Sierra Leone.

    The government said Dr Sheik Humarr Khan’s death was “an irreparable loss of this son of the soil”. The 39-year-old was a leading doctor on hemorrhagic fevers in a nation with very few medical resources. His remains were buried yesterday.

    Ebola cases first emerged in Guinea back in March, and later spread across the borders to Liberia and Sierra Leone.

    Sierra Leone’s President Ernest Bai Koroma  has declared a public health emergency to curb the deadly Ebola outbreak.

    He said the epicentres of the outbreak in the east would be quarantined and asked the security forces to enforce the measures.

    As part of the new measures to contain the viral haemorrhagic fever, travellers at airports will have to wash their hands with disinfectant and have their temperatures checked, President Koroma said in a statement.

    All deaths must also be reported to the authorities before burial, he said.

    His measures – to remain in place for between 60 and 90 days – follow tough anti-Ebola policies introduced this week in neighbouring Liberia, where schools have been closed and some communities are to be quarantined.

    Both President Koroma and his Liberian counterpart Ellen Johnson Sirleaf have cancelled visits to Washington for the US-Africa summit next week because of the crisis.

    Meanwhile, Ethiopia is to begin screening all passengers arriving from West Africa and Kenya has stepped up surveillance at all ports of entry.

    In a statement, Ethiopian Airlines said ground and on-board staff would have also been sensitised on how to handle suspected cases of the virus.

    Also, the head of the World Health Organization and leaders of West African nations affected by the Ebola outbreak are offering a joint $100m (£59m; 75m euro) response plan.