As the virus ravages West Africa, Nigeria has become the third nation to declare a national state of emergency – announced as the death toll of the devastating Ebola epidemic nears 1,000 people. To date the incurable disease – which has spread through Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria – has infected over 1,779 people. Yesterday officials from the World Health Organisation admitted that it is struggling to cope with the growing epidemic. WHO Director general Margaret Chan said: The outbreak is moving faster than we can control it. British Airways and Emirates have responded to the ongoing outbreak by grounded flights to West African disease hotspots in an effort to protect its staff and passengers. Meanwhile international health experts have congratulated the WHO on not insisting for movement restrictions – allowing for faster transport of personnel and equipment. In a bid to slow the spread of the fatal virus – which holds a mortality rate of almost 50% – Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan approved more than 1.9billion naira (£6.6million) to fight the disease. Nigeria, which houses Africas highest population, has already confirmed seven cases and two deaths. The first death was that of a dual US-Liberian citizen, infected with Ebola, who landed in Lagos on a flight from Liberia, via Togo, on 20 July. The second was the nurse who tended to him. Seven people suspected of contracting the disease are being investigated while another 139 Nigerian people are under surveillance.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 07:18:25 +0000
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