Nigeria scrambles to contain Ebola

Wednesday, August 20, 2014
By Paul Martin

Ameen Auwalii and Tonny Onyulo
USATODAY.com
August 19, 2014

LAGOS, Nigeria — Africa’s most populous country is scrambling to avoid the fate of nearby nations that have failed to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola virus.

An epidemic could devastate Nigeria’s economy and overrun its meager health facilities. That’s why the country has taken drastic measures to contain the spread of Ebola since Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer brought the virus to Lagos on a flight from Liberia on July 20.

The government has set up isolation centers for potential carriers, established checkpoints at border crossings and kept a close eye on anyone who might have come into contact with infected people. President Goodluck Jonathan declared a national emergency last week and called on the public to avoid large gatherings.

Lagos Health Commissioner Jide Idris recommends that Nigerian families keep anyone suspected of carrying the virus in one room. He even suggested roping off rooms and boarding up windows, so other family members and neighbors aren’t exposed.

“Our patients are being camped and fenced in with planks to stop exposing others to a virus that is difficult to deal with,” he said this week. “We’ll not lose the war against Ebola. The government will continue to take every step to check the spread of Ebola in the country.”

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