Human existence is under threat with the recent epidemics of Lassa fever, Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM), Yellow fever, Monkey pox, cholera, and Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) as well as the unknown Pathogen X.
The epidemics, combined, since the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, have killed several thousands and maimed hundreds of thousands.
In fact, the repeated outbreaks of zoonotic infectious diseases with epidemic potential in Central and West Africa, such as Ebola, Rift valley fever, Chikungunya and Dengue, continue to pose major public health threats to regional, continental and global health security.
Nigeria, on July 20, marked five years after the arrival of Ebola in Lagos while the World Health Organisation (WHO), on August 1, observed one year since the Government of the DRC declared an outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in North Kivu province of the DRC. A month ago, it was declared as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
The latest cases in such a dense population in DRC underscored the very real risk of further disease transmission; perhaps beyond the country’s borders, and the very urgent need for a strengthened global response and increased donor investment.
According to the WHO, the ongoing outbreak of the virus, centred in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the DRC, is already the second worst recorded in history. Only the epidemic of 2014-16, which killed at least 11,000 people across the world after it decimated West Africa, has claimed more lives.
Why Nigerians should be worried: Ethiopians Airlines, which has direct flights from DRC, has four destinations in Nigeria. In July, someone came on Ethiopian Airline with a very high fever and suspected Ebola case. The person was quickly isolated and tested for Ebola and other haemorrhagic fevers. The person, however, tested negative to Ebola.
The WHO has warned that all countries especially in Africa should raise their disease surveillance and monitoring especially at the borders; and investigations and several reports have shown that most of the nation’s borders are porous.
Ebola is highly contagious and spreads through the blood or other bodily fluids of patients, or contaminated surfaces.
In Nigeria, in 2014, 20 cases and eight Ebola deaths were confirmed, along with the imported case, who also died. Four of the dead were health care workers who had cared for the index case.
Official figures show half of the Ebola outbreak’s fatalities having occurred since April, with two-thirds of cases leading to death
Virologists have repeatedly warned the current outbreak has the potential to be the worst ever seen, amid claims armed militia are hampering responses.
Also, viral infections like Lassa fever, Yellow fever and Monkey pox that used to be seasonal are now perennial.
Several studies have shown that such diseases that have animal hosts-rodents as carriers and reservoirs like Lassa fever and Monkey Pox are very hard to eliminate without vaccines. It has also been shown that diseases that have been eradicated or almost eradicated such as smallpox and polio were only possible because of effective vaccines. There is currently no WHO approved vaccines for Lassa fever, Monkey pox and Ebola.
Is Nigeria prepared for another EVD epidemic or/and outbreak of deadly diseases? The Guardian investigates with responses from renowned virologist, epidemiologists, consultant public health physicians and medical laboratory scientists.
The experts include: the immediate past Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; a foremost virologist and consultant to the WHO, Prof. Oyewale Tomori; immediate past Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris; a consultant public health physician, epidemiologist and former Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Akin Osibogun; President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Sam Ohuabunwa; the Director General (DG)/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu.