Nigeria sets example in fight against Ebola

Forty-two days have passed since the last Ebola case was detected in Nigeria, the World Health Organization announced on Oct 20, declaring the country Ebola-free. It was welcome news not only for Africa, but also for the rest of the world, raising the confidence of the countries and people combating the deadly disease.

Ebola, still rampant in West Africa, broke out earlier this year and has spread to Europe and the United States. The epidemic has claimed the lives of 4,922 people and more than 13,000 confirmed infection cases, mostly in the three hardest-hit countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

When the Ebola virus was carried into Nigeria on July 20 by Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian national, almost everyone assumed the disease would sweep across the most populous country in Africa. Twenty confirmed cases were detected in Nigeria, with one of the victims succumbing to the disease.

Nigeria owes its success to strong leadership, effective implementation of rules, selfless dedication of its medical staff and cross-country cooperation.

After Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan labeled the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency on Aug 8, the Nigerian government set up an all-comprehensive Ebola Emergency Operations Center, which helped the country in its fight against the disease. Even the WHO has praised the Nigerian government for its "strong leadership" in the anti-Ebola mission.

Almost all anti-Ebola virus measures have been effectively implemented in Nigeria. The hospital which treated the first patient, Sawyer, was immediately shut down and vacated. Vigilance and screening at airports and border crossings were promptly strengthened. And all flights to and from Ebola-stricken countries such as Sierra Leone and Liberia were cancelled.

Furthermore, several Ebola testing centers were set up so that the patients infected with the virus could be identified and quarantined within the shortest possible time. Also, the Nigerian government formed a six-member research committee on Aug 4 to conduct research on the virus and train local doctors to effectively combat the disease.

Several other emergency measures were taken to check the spread of the disease in Nigeria and provide thorough treatment to the infected. In Lagos and Port Harcourt, where all the confirmed Ebola cases were reported from, a robust contact tracing system was established to ensure that virtually every person who had come in contact with the patients could be identified, closely monitored, isolated and provided with proper treatment.

The Nigerian authorities succeeded in finding and monitoring more than 400 people, who had come in contact with a Port Harcourt doctor who succumbed to Ebola, for signs of the virus. These people were his family and community members, and colleagues. This case, recorded in a WHO report, demonstrates one of the most important reasons behind Nigeria's success.