WITH the news of a fresh Ebola outbreak in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, it is important for all Nigerians and the authorities to note that the crisis has been well managed so far but the threat remains.
Eternal vigilance and diligence therefore.
The euphoria that greeted the release of seven Ebola patients in quick succession from the Lagos isolation ward was truncated the other day when it was announced that two new Ebola cases were found in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Those Port Harcourt cases simply show that the fight against Ebola virus is far from being over and nobody should relax on the presumption that the disease has been eliminated.
Even before the new case was announced, Nigeria was under no illusion that the virus had been eliminated. The Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, had, unequivocally declared: “We have not eradicated it”. That is the truth about the epidemic. Containment merely suggests an attempt to stop the spread of the disease and it is not total elimination or eradication.
Thus far, the facts are that 15 Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases have been reported in Nigeria; the number of cases treated at the isolation ward in Lagos is thirteen; the total number of discharged patients stands at 7; the total number of deaths from those treated in Lagos is five; one person who is still receiving treatment in the isolation ward is stable and improving. The two new Port Harcourt cases were not treated at the isolation ward.
Out of the two, one was a primary contact of the index case, the Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer, who reportedly evaded surveillance and travelled to Port Harcourt, where he consulted Dr. Ikechukwu Enemuo and was apparently treated for some symptoms. He later returned to Lagos, four days after a manhunt was mounted for him, he was tested and found to be without the symptoms anymore.
Unfortunately, Dr. Sam Ikechukwu Enemuo, who treated him, became ill after being infected with the virus and later died. Meanwhile, Enemuo’s wife, a medical doctor, with a three month-old baby, who naturally took care of her husband reportedly contracted the disease and has been quarantined in the Lagos isolation facility. Reports say she is in stable condition.
Latest reports say three other persons out of the 50 high-risk contacts of Dr. Enemuo have also been quarantined in Port Harcourt. The three persons include a doctor, a pharmacist and a female patient who received treatment at Enemuo’s hospital for undisclosed ailment. Another 60 high risk persons are reported to have absconded and refused to come forward. Those 60 persons would now need to present themselves in their own interest and that of members of the public.
It is noteworthy that, so far, Nigeria has tackled the Ebola outbreak with vigour and the initial fear of a public health crisis did not materialise. But cautious optimism should be exercised at this stage as the possibility of new infections cannot be ruled out.
Nigerian authorities, quite unusually, reacted promptly and effectively by tracking, testing and isolating persons who had contact with those infected patients. Because Sawyer collapsed at the airport and was taken immediately to hospital, the chances of infecting more people were drastically reduced. It is unimaginable what would have happened if Sawyer was allowed to crisscross Lagos, a city of over 20 million people, on his way to Calabar to attend a meeting. The prompt action on him by the First Consultants Medical Centre, was the saving grace, even though, Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, who treated him, contracted the disease and later died. If Sawyer had not been restricted by Adadevoh the country would have been in trouble.
The efficiency of Lagos State health authorities working in concert with the Federal Ministry of Health is quite commendable. They have both done well in their efforts by not hiding information and public awareness through the mass media has been remarkable.
In a further attempt to monitor the situation, government has postponed the reopening of schools till October. While some see this as being in order, others, especially, private school proprietors, have kicked against it. But this should not be the case. It is better to err on the part of reason and caution knowing that it would take just one infected person in a school for the entire school population to be at risk.
As it is now, Nigerians should still be on the alert. There should be no hiding of sick persons with Ebola-like symptoms and the sensitization should continue. Since travels have not been restricted and borders not closed, security personnel at the border points should be up and doing. They should do everything within their powers to ensure the restriction of infected persons. Screening at border posts should be stepped up while personal hygiene must be seen as critical to curtailment.
All state governments should also set up isolation centres. The N60,000 and N40,000 per week pay inducement and life insurance coverage offered by the Federal Government to doctors and nurses respectively is commendable.
It is heartening that a new vaccine is to be put on trial to combat the disease and the World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as its collaborating countries, should expedite action towards getting an effective vaccine.
It is good that Ebola has not gone out of hand but the current efforts against the virus should be sustained.
