Ebola was first tracked
in two simultaneous outbreaks in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of
Congo in 1976. Prior to the current outbreak, there were fewer than
1,800 recorded cases of Ebola, resulting in fewer than 1,100 fatalities.
The 2014 outbreak is the first in West Africa and the first time virus transmission has been recorded in a capital city.
The Ebola Virus is a rather strange and mysterious disease, and currently
posing major challenges in the medical field, not to talk about its
negative socio - economic impact. It's resurfacing in West Africa is
quite unfortunate, but the truth is that it is here with us. I noticed that ignorance and denial of its
existence facilitates its spread. The emphasis on the effective
eradication of this deadly disease lies in adopting the necessary
preventive measures; frequent washing of hands
with water and soap or chlorinated water, avoiding contact with an
infected person, intensify sensitisation on the Virus and early treatment
if signs manifest.
Controversies
over the true origin of the dreaded Ebola virus still are sketchy and
mysterious with the ailment according to medical experts is transmitted by
touching or eating bush meat. The Ebola virus was discovered by a river
and the virus got its name from that river.
But
questions still linger in one’s mind like why 1976?
Answer: virus, disease evolve (so we are told). They adapt to environment but
when their origin has an accurate date attached to it like something
manufactured in a factory or lab one becomes suspicious of foul play.
Africans
have been eating bush meat from the beginning of time and never suffered any
ailment. Bush meat is and has always been a major delicacy in the diet of any
typical African so why bush meat?
Answer: are bush animals unfortunate victims or deliberate controlled
victims. These innocent animals used the same river and got infected by the
virus and anyone who eats them gets the virus. Sounds like energy being
transferred from one form to another, from one existence to another, from
animal to man. We never had this before so why this? Has it reached its destination?
The virus
started near a river that was the main source for a lot of people in that part,
it would be difficult for anyone living around that location to avoid the river
because of its importance to the lifestyle of the people. Why a river?
Answer: most African villages still rely on the basic ways of life to
survive, like drinking, bathing and washing from a river. A river is life to
the African. Water is life and if the river is contaminated, to a race like
Africans, that means death.
The last
question that bothers me is, was the Ebola virus signed and delivered as a
laboratory product? if this is the case, who is responsible? who is
experimenting/testing with the lives of a race? is it still another
neo-colonisation ploy to rip/exploit Africans; we infect your rivers with a
decease, you people get sick and we come up with a cure then you desperately
buy or else no vaccine.
This reminds
me of some movies where the bad guy acts like the good guy but in truth he
caused the problem so he could rip the benefits, like playing the game chess
but this time with the lives of people. We have a long list of viruses,
deceases manufactured in a lab somewhere far off and shipped to mother Africa
and we have seen nuclear wastes being shipped into this peaceful continent
without caring the consequence it has on the people.
The deed has
been done, now it’s time to find a solution once again, rich Africa will pay
the price. Read the following prevention habits and equipment that will help.
Guidelines and Suggestions in dealing with the epidemic:
1. Encourage and facilitate Chinese, Russian, Canadian, US and local
scientists as they race for a cure.
Bring together a caucus of Nigerian scientists to assist in the quick
evaluation of recommended vaccines.
2. Go vegetarian (partial or full) and encourage others to do the same
for now since we are not sure about the
role of animals in the transmission cycle. See no 7.
3. Encourage the boiling of water, frequent hand washing and sanitation.
Use disinfectants generously.
4. Give moral, material and technical support to health workers.
Protective gear is crucial for health workers.
Urine, saliva, vomit, faeces, semen, or blood from an infected person can
be deadly and so too infected needles, gloves, towels or clothing.
5. Facilitate immediate burial of corpses across the region. The
ancestors will understand. Fast - track burial is key. Handle the
clothing of the infected with caution. Burn it.
6. Travel with caution.
7. Be careful about where you eat and what you eat.
8. Use electronic and print media; word of mouth, pamphlets, banners etc
to pass on basic info. All public places including mosques and churches,
schools and markets should facilitate the basic message about hand
washing, sanitation, quick burial of the dead and caution in food etc.We
all have a responsibility to spread the information as well.
Information should be in multiple languages (Aluko). Use loud speakers in
various towns and villages to pass on the message. Each person in this
group should inform 100 persons who in turn will do the same.
9. Immune system boosters such as garlic, onions, Echinacea, VIT C, A
& E, Zinc will not cure ebola but at least will strengthen the body's
defense mechanism. Treat nutritional food as a priority.
10. Give friends, acquaintances, relatives, material support to purchase
the following precautionary items:
A. gloves and face masks
B. clean needles
C. disinfectants
D.
nutritional food and vitamins
The governors of Nigeria's 36 states have started greeting one another
with clenched fist salutes - not out of revolutionary fervor, but to avoid
transmitting the deadly Ebola virus.
Ever since the health authorities began a sensitization program on the Ebola
virus, Nigerians have been discouraged from shaking hands to avoid
infection. The advisory has led to several Nigerians pointedly avoiding
physical contact with their friends and associates.
President Goodluck Jonathan summoned the governors and regional health
commissioners to an emergency meeting in the capital, Abuja, to discuss how to
stop the spread of Ebola, and the governors "opted to greet one another with
clenched fists", a local newspaper reports, quoting the official
News Agency of Nigeria.
The health ministry's Ebola awareness program is discouraging Nigerians from
shaking hands to avoid further infection, and the clenched fist is the latest
in a series of changes people are making to avoid physical contact. Members of
Parliament (MPs) stopped shaking hands earlier this week, and even the Catholic
Church has reviewed its 'Sign of Peace' gesture of shaking hands with your
neighbor during Mass.
Three people have died of Ebola in Nigeria since it arrived in late July, and
10 more have been diagnosed with the disease. Many Nigerians who had initial
contact with carriers have been quarantined, and several others are under
observation. At their meeting with the president, the governors agreed to set
up seven laboratories nationwide to test for Ebola, and upheld a decision to
ban the movement of corpses from state to state without a waiver from the
federal ministry of health and proper safeguards.
Scientists at Aberystwyth University in Wales have established that shaking
hands is one of the most effective ways of passing on bacteria, and
recommend 'fist-bumping' as a much less risky way of greeting if
people don't want to avoid physical contact altogether.
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