Ebola: Nigerian troops quarantined in Liberia
Major-General Obashina Ogunbiyi, head of the Nigerian Army medical corps, said the Ebola virus disease “has landed among our troops” in Liberia after the death of the Sudanese. The Sudanese entered the troops’ camp to pray and “two days later, he died,” Ogunbiyi told a meeting of infectious diseases experts, under the aegis of the […]
Major-General Obashina Ogunbiyi, head of the Nigerian Army medical corps, said the Ebola virus disease “has landed among our troops” in Liberia after the death of the Sudanese.
The Sudanese entered the troops’ camp to pray and “two days later, he died,” Ogunbiyi told a meeting of infectious diseases experts, under the aegis of the Ebola Treatment Research Group (TRG).
“All troops were quarantined this (yesterday) morning,” he added.
Ogunbiyi chaired a plenary session of the experts’ meeting, where he said Nigeria has around 1,300 troops stationed in Liberia.
“We thought we were getting away (from Ebola). But Ebola is still with us. Any one of those soldiers can come home on holiday,” he said.
It was not clear if all the 1,300 Nigerian troops were in the camp where the Sudanese died.
This is the first time Nigerian troops in Liberia are reported to be quarantined because of the Ebola disease, which has been ravaging that nation for months.
In August, a Nigeria soldier who returned from Liberia was suspected to be infected with Ebola after he developed fever in Kaduna, but a test found him to be free of the virus.
The first Ebola case in Nigeria was recorded in July when Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer arrived from his native country. His importation of the virus led to the death of several people, including medics and a diplomat.
Nigeria later succeeded in taming the disease
Yesterday, the World Health Organisation said it could declare Nigeria free of Ebola virus disease by October 20 if no new case of infection is recorded.
That date will mark 42 days after the last confirmed Ebola case, which is the recommended duration to follow up on remaining cases and double the 21 days for observing people who had contact with Ebola cases.
Dr Rui Gama Vaz, WHO representative in Nigeria, said at the TRG meeting of experts in Abuja that Nigeria’s successful containment of the virus held lessons for the rest of the world to copy.
“The world needs these important results…and Nigeria is definitely a good example so far,” said Vaz. But he insisted Nigeria must maintain vigilance on its entry ports through which an estimated 50,000 people come daily.
He added the “world was not prepared and didn’t take it serious” until the current outbreak of Ebola emerged in urban populations.
At least 60 sites have been affected across the region, with more than 8,000 people confirmed infected and nearly 4,000 dead, according to the WHO.
“These figures might not represent the reality they are facing in these countries (Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia),” said Vaz, citing disruption of already weak health systems, destruction of national economies and impeding efforts to stabilise West Africa.
The meeting of the infectious diseases experts is expected to “develop a roadmap to ensure Nigeria takes a lead in developing treatment options for Ebola,” said Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu.
TRG was set up as part of national response to Ebola and has since received 32 treatment claims for evaluation.
“There is current need to focus on diagnosis and development of affordable and reliable rapid diagnostic test kits to facilitate early diagnosis of Ebola and other infectious diseases,” said Chukwu said.
Research will also consider protection of health workers, considered most vulnerable to Ebola on account of their work. Sixty percent of all Ebola infections confirmed were among health workers.