PRESIDENT Barack Obama has described the Ebola outbreak in West Africa as ‘a threat to global security’.
His warning was echoed last night by Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond who said the epidemic in West Africa could become a ‘global catastrophe with disastrous consequences’ without more humanitarian support.
The US president announced plans this week to send 3,000 American troops to the region to help build new healthcare facilities.
“We could be looking at hundreds of thousands of people infected in West Africa,” Obama warned on Tuesday
Mr Obama said the disease required a ‘global response’ as a worsening outbreak would lead to ‘profound political, economic and security implications for all of us’.
He said: “in West Africa, Ebola is now an epidemic, of the likes that we have not seen before. It’s spiralling out of control: it is getting worse; it’s spreading faster and exponentially.
“Today thousands of people in West Africa are infected. That number could rapidly grow to tens of thousand. And if the outbreak is not stopped now, we could be looking at hundreds of thousands infected.
“This is an epidemic that is not just a threat to regional security. It’s a potential threat to global security if these countries break down, if their economies break down, if people panic.”
Obama met on Tuesday morning with Dr Kent Brantly and his wife, Amber. Dr Brantly contracted the Ebola virus while doing missionary aid work in Liberia, but has recovered completely
Britain is to provide hundreds of extra beds to treat people affected by the deadly virus as part of a £100million aid package. Mr Hammond confirmed work is progressing to provide 200 beds to Sierra Leone while a further 500 will be supplied in the coming months.
Last week, it was announced that British military personnel are setting up a 62-bed Ebola treatment centre near Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone.
Meanwhile, a healthy British woman became the first volunteer to receive a potentially life-saving new vaccine to tackle the virus yesterday.
Ruth Atkins was injected with the experimental drug at Oxford University as part of a safety trial.
If successful, it will be used to treat patients in West Africa where 2,500 people have now died.
The 48-year-old from Marcham in Oxfordshire is one of 60 volunteers taking part in the UK trial over the coming weeks, which has been fast-tracked because of the worsening outbreak. After being given her injection, she said: ‘I feel absolutely fine, it felt no different to being vaccinated before going on holiday.’
Mrs Atkins, an NHS communications manager who has also worked as a nurse, will keep a diary of her side effects over the next eight weeks and have regular blood tests. She said she volunteered ‘because the situation in West Africa is so tragic’.
Ten thousand doses of the drug are being manufactured by British drug company GlaxoSmithKline in the hope it will be approved for use.
Nigeria warns citizens against travelling abroad
NIGERIANS planning to travel abroad have been advised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be aware of the measures introduced by various countries to contain the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) to avoid “embarrassment.”
The ministry, on Thursday, in a circular made available to newsmen said the warning became imperative following the treatment meted out to Nigerians in some countries.
“As a result of the outbreak of Ebola cases in Nigeria, following the visit of a Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer many countries have introduced stringent measures to stop the spread of the disease.
“These include closure of borders, screening at entry points, repatriation of passengers from Ebola infected countries including Nigeria and quarantine of passengers for up to 21 to 40 days,’’ the statement said.
The statement further described such measures as “unacceptable’’, saying it was “clearly contrary to the guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
It said the ministry had ‘strongly protested’ the treatment being meted out to Nigerians in some countries, but did not mention the countries involved.
It referred Nigerians planning to travel abroad to visit the website of embassies and consulates of countries they intended to visit for updated travel information before embarking on the trips.
It also advised Nigerians to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for further information.
According to the WHO, no fewer than 2,500 have died from the EVD from 5,000 cases in West Africa.
NIGERIANS planning to travel abroad have been advised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be aware of the measures introduced by various countries to contain the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) to avoid “embarrassment.”
The ministry, on Thursday, in a circular made available to newsmen said the warning became imperative following the treatment meted out to Nigerians in some countries.
“As a result of the outbreak of Ebola cases in Nigeria, following the visit of a Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer many countries have introduced stringent measures to stop the spread of the disease.
“These include closure of borders, screening at entry points, repatriation of passengers from Ebola infected countries including Nigeria and quarantine of passengers for up to 21 to 40 days,’’ the statement said.
The statement further described such measures as “unacceptable’’, saying it was “clearly contrary to the guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
It said the ministry had ‘strongly protested’ the treatment being meted out to Nigerians in some countries, but did not mention the countries involved.
It referred Nigerians planning to travel abroad to visit the website of embassies and consulates of countries they intended to visit for updated travel information before embarking on the trips.
It also advised Nigerians to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for further information.
According to the WHO, no fewer than 2,500 have died from the EVD from 5,000 cases in West Africa.
Lagos still under threat of trans-border transmission of virus —Commissioner
THE Lagos State government, on Thursday, said the state was still under threat of trans-border transmission of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) from the virus ravaged neighbouring countries.
Dr Jide Idris, the Commissioner for Health, made the assertion in Ikeja while receiving some Ebola virus preventive materials donated by Neimeith Pharmaceutical Plc to the state government.
He said though the last case under observation would be discharged later on Thursday, the state had yet to be free from the threats of EVD in spite of its successful containment.
According to him, Lagos State has been very lucky and proactive in the containment of the disease.
“So far, for over a week, we have not recorded any new case. We have followed up on all the contacts.
“In fact, the last contact should be delisted today, all things going on well.”
“But, as long as we still have the situation in Liberia, Sierria-Leone and Guinea, we are not out of the woods yet because there is still the possibility and every potential that the virus could be re-introduced here,” Idris said.
The commissioner said the Federal Government had been proactive too in manning all the nation’s bothers as part of the precautionary measures against the spread of the virus.
“But, we should not rest on our oars, and that is why we are trying to sensitise the public on the virus.
“We are to continue with every major strategy we started with. And, we hope we don’t record any new case,” Idris said.
The commissioner said that the state government would continue to train health workers to continue to respond and take steps to keep the environment safe.
Idris said the state government had started to provide potable water and sanitary facilities in schools ahead of Sept. 22 resumption to eliminate threats of the disease in schools.
He advised residents to maintain good environment and good personal hygiene, saying that these would help to reduce the risk of infections.
The commissioner commended Neimeith for donating the items, saying that they would boost the state government‘s preventive strategy against the virus.
Presenting the items, Mr Emmanuel Ekunno, Neimeth‘s Managing Director, said the donation was to further support the war against EVD in the state.
Ekunno said the items, which comprised 1,000 NCP fungicidal packs and some sensitisation materials, were a response to take preventive steps to keep safe.
He described Ebola virus as serious health threat and expressed optimism that the items would significantly help to eliminate its threat.
Ekunno commended the state government for the successful containment of the virus.
According to him, but for its pro-activeness and its results-oriented approach, the problem would have resulted in a disaster.
“We commend the proactive, timely and unrelenting efforts of the Lagos State government in putting in place adequate measures to contain the Ebola Virus Disease.
“The concentric circle strategy of the Lagos State government at monitoring and quarantining the index case, primary and secondary contacts has proved very effective in containing what would have been disastrous,” he said.
Oyo creates burial site for haemorrhagic corpses
DR Abbas Gbolahan, an Epidemiologist in the Oyo State Ministry of Health, on Thursday, said government had designated cemeteries for corpses of haemorrhagic diseases.
Gbolahan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, that there was public health law in the state which specified where corpses of haemorrhagic diseases should be buried.
He listed the diseases to include Dengue, Lassa, and Ebola.
“There is a public health law in the state that says if anyone has any of these diseases and does not report to government, he or she is liable to six months imprisonment.
“This law is being reviewed now that the EVD had spread to Nigeria.
“Contact tracing is the state government business and health education officers in all the 33 local governments in the state have been trained to do this,” he said.
Gbolahan said that the state government would be responsible for burying such corpses, adding that no dead body should be kept or buried at home.
The physician, however, declined to mention the location of the designated cemeteries.
He explained that the state ministry of health was collaborating with the University College Hospital (UCH) in handling such cases.
Osun public, private schools to resume October 6
OSUN State government, on Wednesday, said both public and private schools in the state would resume for 2014/2015 academic activities on October 6.
The development, the Nigerian Tribune gathered was informed by the need to put in place necessary safety measures aimed at preventing any occurrence of EVD among pupils and students in both public and private schools.
This was contained in a press release signed by the deputy governor and Commissioner for Education, Mrs Grace Titilayo Laoye Tomori.
According to the release, “after a careful consideration of views from the stakeholders, the governor of Osun State, Mr Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, has directed all public and private schools in the state to reopen for the year 2014/2015 academic activities on Monday, 6th October, 2014.”
“This would enable both principals and teachers to receive adequate relevant training and put in place all necessary measures to prevent Ebola epidemic,” the release added.
While assuring the people of the state that Osun is Ebola free, Tomori charged “schools’ managers to ensure daily practical demonstration of hand washing by pupils, students, including teachers, with a view to maintain the culture of hygiene.”
NOA sensitises Oyo schools
AS schools in Oyo State are preparing to resume on Monday, school owners, teachers and non- teaching staff have been advised to embark on effective surveillance to prevent their students from contracting the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) or becoming targets of attacks.
Addressing principals and members of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of public and private schools in Oyo State on Thursday, Mrs Oluwakemi Olawoye, the Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Oyo State, advised them to take the travel history of their students, provide hand washing materials, clean water, good toilets manned by trained adults and make use of infrared thermometer to check the temperature of the students.
Olawoye, who spoke on infection prevention and control of EVD in schools, said nobody, except a blood test, could determine who has the EVD but advised that whoever has a temperature of 37.5”C should visit the clinic.
Mrs Onuoha Grace of the Department of State Security who spoke on security tips to prevent insurgent attacks at the workshop organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), noted that security should now be everybody’s business.
while urging proprietors to ensure that their schools buildings/environment are well secured.
Onuoha also advised proprietors to keep detailed records of their students as precautionary measures and the telephone numbers of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and officers of police stations closest to them.
ASP Daniel Obakore, Oyo Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, said school owners should have a plan of what to do and how to do it in case of an attack or an explosion.
In his address, the Director, NOA, Mr Remi Omowon, said the workshop became compulsory to build the capacity of stakeholders in the education sector to effectively prevent the spread of Ebola and take proactive measures to prevent insurgency.
We will not resume classes without prevention materials —A/Ibom NUT
THE Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Akwa Ibom chapter, says teachers in the state will not resume classes without the provision of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) prevention kits to schools.
Secretary of the union, Dr Mike Ene, made the statement on Thursday in Uyo in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said that teachers in the state would comply with the directive of the Federal Government to resume classes on September 22 but would not teach.
He said that the state government had promised that two teachers from each school in the state would be trained on the prevention of the disease.
“But so far, the numbers of teachers who have been trained are not up to 50 per cent.
“The Ebola virus is too deadly for one to take it for granted; we don’t want the issue of the disease to be like that of the Chibok girls that is still hanging in the air.
“We are ready to work provided every school is provided with temperature testing machine, sanitizers, hand gloves and other relevant materials,’’ he said.
The secretary urged the government to provide EVD prevention materials to teachers to enable them resume classes.
Ene explained that schools in the rural areas were those that deserve more attention because rural dwellers eat a lot of bush meat.
He said that since pupils in primary schools and students in secondary school share a lot of things in common while in school, it would be easy to spread the disease if there is infection.
A parent, Mr Okon Edet, with children in primary and secondary schools, said that schools should not be reopened if the EVD prevention kits are not provided to schools.
He said that though the academic calendar of the schools would be affected, “it is better for the right thing to be done than rushing to resume.’’
CULLED FROM N. TRIBUNE
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