The Ebola outbreak that has almost killed 3000 according to WHO Statistics is almost non-existent in Nigeria. This is a statement from US source. In a fresh setback to the global fight against the virus, the United States declared an Ebola case had been diagnosed there for the first time in a man who became infected in Liberia and traveled to Texas. The virus has 21 days incubation period.
. Nigeria has no new case since August 31, the country should be able to announce a formal end to its outbreak on October 12, a spokesman
for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told AFP. (Source:Vanguard)
The last three people monitored due to potential exposure to an Ebola patient will end their 21 days of follow-up for signs of symptoms later this week.
“The last three patient contacts will exit their 21-day follow-up on October 2 — strongly suggesting the outbreak in Nigeria has been contained,” the CDC said in a statement. The country may soon be over from the scourge which outbreak is not in the same margin as Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
The death toll from Ebola epidemic has claimed 3,091 lives in five West African countries out of 6,574 infected, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Eight people died of Ebola in Nigeria out of 20 confirmed cases, according to the WHO. The Nigerian government has said seven people died and 19 were infected.
The outbreak in Nigeria began July 20 when Patrick Sawyer, a dual US-Liberian citizen, boarded a plane to Lagos, a densely populated city of 21 million people.
Ebola is spread through close contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. The illness causes diarrhea, vomiting, fever and fatal bleeding in some cases.
“By the time it was recognized that the patient carried the Ebola virus, he had exposed 72 people on commercial aircraft, at the airport, and at the hospital,” the CDC said.
The US agency credited Nigerian authorities with taking quick actions to isolate patients and set up an incident management center for a coordinated response.
Nigeria is not completely free yet but the level of control is recommendable according to CDC Director Tom Frieden.
The Nigerian government has previously said the last confirmed case was discovered September 8, suggesting the end would come later in October than foreseen by the CDC.
