WHO Believes Nigeria Can Contain The Spread Of Ebola.....

THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has said there are “encouraging signs” that Nigeria’s positive action in fighting the Ebola virus can stop further spread of the deadly disease.

“The intensity of the search and monitoring effort raises cautious optimism that further spread of the virus in Nigeria can be stopped.

“The search for additional cases continues, as does the current high level of vigilance,” the body stated.

Alongside Nigeria, out of all the West African countries, WHO also gave a ray of hope to Guinea Republic in being able to stop the virus spread with positive action targeted at fighting the scourge.

The world health body, on Tuesday, said death toll as a result of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa has reached 1,229, though it lauded “encouraging signs” from Nigeria and Guinea in tackling the deadly disease.

The WHO said the death toll increased between August 14 and 16, as 113 new cases were reported, raising the total number of cases this year to 2,240.

The information, according to the WHO figure, came from Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, the four West African countries hit by the virus.

Despite the rising death toll, the WHO said situation in Lagos, Nigeria, where the first case was detected in July, “looks reassuring.

“At present, the 12 confirmed cases in Lagos are all part of a single chain of transmission. Those infected by the initial case include medical staff involved in his treatment, a patient in the same hospital, and a protocol officer in very close contact with the patient.”

The Cable Network News (CNN) quoted WHO to have said in a report that: “No one on the same flight as the man who carried the infection into the country on July 20 was infected, despite him vomiting frequently on the flight and on arrival. The man died July 25 and the 21-day incubation period has now passed.

“Intensive efforts to track those at risk have not turned up any new cases outside the 12 identified.

“One of those 12 has made a full recovery,” the WHO said, adding that the development “counters the widespread perception that infection with the Ebola virus is invariably a death sentence.

“Evidence suggests early detection and therapy can help people survive.”

In Guinea, the situation is “is less alarming” than in Liberia and Sierra Leone, the WHO said, adding that this was made effective by higher awareness and innovative efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

Despite the positive signs, the WHO warned that the outbreak was not under control and that progress was fragile, with a real risk of another flare-up and the continued spread of the disease.

The WHO, on Monday, called on the affected countries to carry out exit screenings of travellers at international airports, seaports and major land crossings.

But it said it did not currently recommend travel restrictions and active screening of passengers on arrival in countries that did not have borders with the affected countries.

Source: Tribune