The world still remains frantic in trying to control what is definitely one of the deadliest virus outbreaks in modern history. The Ebola hemorrhagic fever has already killed more than 4,500 people in three countries in West Africa alone: Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. There are also reported cases and deaths in developed nations such as the United States and Spain.
The World Health Organizations predicted that in the worst-case scenario, the number of cases can increase to 10,000 a week by December. Some have reported that it may already be difficult to contain.
However, the recent news in Nigeria brings everyone a spark of hope-that it's still possible to end Ebola and eventually win the war.
The nation of more than 160 million people according to 2013 World Bank report is already free of Ebola. They haven't reported any new case or death for more than 30 days. The incubation period of the virus is 21 days, after which the patient will show symptoms and become contagious.
The efforts of Nigeria in fighting the virus didn't come unnoticed to WHO who was present when they declared the country to be already Ebola free. The secret lay on the concerted efforts of the government officials, health workers, and citizens of the country.
However, the road to being Ebola free wasn't very easy. It began when diplomat Patrick Sawyer collapsed as soon as he arrived in the airport of Lagos, the most populous Nigerian city with over 20 million people, on July 20. Initially diagnosed with malaria, Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh noticed that his symptoms seemed to be hemorrhagic.
Back then, Nigeria wasn't ready for Ebola, although doctors knew that they had to immediately contain and isolate the patient despite the threats from the government to release him and protests from the patient himself. Because they had to be in physical contact with the patient as they tried to restrain him, some health workers including the doctor acquired the disease and later died.
Using the same system for polio tracking, they were able to identify primary and secondary contacts of Sawyer, monitored them for symptoms, and isolate them when they start to develop.
