I
don’t get scared easily. But after this afternoon’s press conference by
the Lagos State Ministry of Health on possible Ebola outbreak in Lagos,
I’m not sure anymore.
1. Ebola is not just dreadful but a nasty
disease (think blood from the ears, eyes, genitals, anus, bloody
rashes, vomit, diarrhoea, etc).
2. Of the 59 known persons with
direct contact with the Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, the government has
only physically screen 20. Where are the 39 others? Possibly doing fasting and prayer in a crowded church!
3. Mr Sawyer became seriously ill on the plane to Lagos. He probably
used the plane’s toilet. How many people shared the toilet with him on
that trip? Not to forget that he changed plane in Lome on his way to
Lagos. He probably used the toilet of the first plane from Liberia too.
That plane stopped over in Accra. The airline hasn’t provided the
flight manifest yet so at least a hundred people that might have had
direct contact with him are still out there and have had contacts with
several others since then. Scary!
4. Just imagine Ebola outbreak
in a place like Ajegunle, Makoko, Oshodi, Ijora… a zombie apocalypse
would be child’s play, trust me.
5. Please if anyone shows
symptoms of the virus don’t take them to your babalwo, prophets or
pastors or prayer warriors ooo. Don’t even touch them. Call the
emergency numbers for qualified health workers to come take them to one
of the isolation centres just opened in Lagos.
6. If someone with
a suspected case dies, desist from touching their corpse and do not
handle the cloths, coffin and other objects used in their funeral.
According to experts, 40% of cases got it during burial rites of
victims.
7. Should there be an outbreak in Lagos, avoid bush
meat, fruit bats, those dirty roadside mamaputs, and unhygienic suya
seller, akara and puff-puff seller. If you must eat suya, Akara or
puff-puff make sure the seller is wearing a clinical mask and hand
gloves.
8. Avoid pit latrines if you can. Wash your hands like
crazy (teach your kids how to wash their hands too). Always carry a
sanitizer in your bag or pocket.
Oh by the way, the Lagos State government has shut down and quarantined the
hospital where a Liberian, Mr Patrick Sawyer with the Ebola virus died in
Lagos.
“We have shut the
hospital to enable us to properly quarantine the environment. Some of the
hospital staff who were in close contact with the victim have been isolated. The hospital will be shut for a week and all
staff monitored to ensure the virus has not spread,” the Lagos State Health Commissioner
Jide Idris said.
used the plane’s toilet. How many people shared the toilet with him on
that trip? Not to forget that he changed plane in Lome on his way to
Lagos. He probably used the toilet of the first plane from Liberia too.
That plane stopped over in Accra. The airline hasn’t provided the
flight manifest yet so at least a hundred people that might have had
direct contact with him are still out there and have had contacts with
several others since then. Scary!
4. Just imagine Ebola outbreak
in a place like Ajegunle, Makoko, Oshodi, Ijora… a zombie apocalypse
would be child’s play, trust me.
5. Please if anyone shows
symptoms of the virus don’t take them to your babalwo, prophets or
pastors or prayer warriors ooo. Don’t even touch them. Call the
emergency numbers for qualified health workers to come take them to one
of the isolation centres just opened in Lagos.
6. If someone with
a suspected case dies, desist from touching their corpse and do not
handle the cloths, coffin and other objects used in their funeral.
According to experts, 40% of cases got it during burial rites of
victims.
7. Should there be an outbreak in Lagos, avoid bush
meat, fruit bats, those dirty roadside mamaputs, and unhygienic suya
seller, akara and puff-puff seller. If you must eat suya, Akara or
puff-puff make sure the seller is wearing a clinical mask and hand
gloves.
8. Avoid pit latrines if you can. Wash your hands like
crazy (teach your kids how to wash their hands too). Always carry a
sanitizer in your bag or pocket.
Oh by the way, the Lagos State government has shut down and quarantined the
hospital where a Liberian, Mr Patrick Sawyer with the Ebola virus died in
Lagos.
“We have shut the
hospital to enable us to properly quarantine the environment. Some of the
hospital staff who were in close contact with the victim have been isolated. The hospital will be shut for a week and all
staff monitored to ensure the virus has not spread,” the Lagos State Health Commissioner
Jide Idris said.