How the Spread of Ebola Virus was Curtailed in Nigeria

Abstract

Ebola virus, the causative agent of Ebola virus disease (EVD) formerly called Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) is one of the most dangerous microorganisms in the world. The virus ravaged West Africa countries particularly, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia infecting over 22,000 people, of which nearly 50% resulted in fatalities. When the disease finally reached Lagos on 20 July 2014, it brought fear and panic because of the large population of Lagos and the chaotic socio-economic situation coupled with dysfunctional health that was even on strike at the time of the outbreak. Also, there was no approved therapeutics and preventive vaccine. It was therefore feared that the disease has finally got out of control owing to the large population of Nigeria and the high frequency of international travel. Against all expectations, Nigeria reacted swiftly by tracing all contacts of the index case, isolated and quarantined infected patients, practiced barrier nursing and supportive care for infected persons. Nigeria was declared Ebola virus free on 20 October 2014, but not before the virus had infected 20 persons, of which 8 succumbed, giving a case fatality rate of 40%, which is a significant improvement over the 90% fatality rate of Zaire Ebola virus, the causative agent of the 2014 EVD outbreak. In all, there was only 1 index case, 13 persons were primary contacts, 3 secondary and 3 tertiary contacts of the index case.