Ebola is a highly infectious disease with elevated mortality and spread rates. It has caused an extensive number of outbreaks, specifically in Africa, and Shuaib et al. (2014) have examined the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Nigeria. As a result of the incident lasting from July to September 2014, eight people died due to EVD. Overall, twenty patients with diagnosed EVD and 894 contacts were identified, limiting the spread of the disease. The demographic groups were highly diverse since the index patient arrived in Lagos – the highest populated city in Nigeria with approximately twenty million people. The symptoms were identical to the typical EVD signs, such as fever, diarrhea, and vomiting.
The most concerning issue about the outbreak was the cause of the disease spread. The index patient with general symptoms, such as fever, decided to travel from Liberia to Nigeria, although they were advised against it. Shortly after the arrival, the patient was transferred to the hospital under the assumption of malaria. The patient acknowledged that they decided to travel despite knowing about the symptoms and potential risks but noted that they were not aware of EVD. As a result, patients’ contacts at the airport were the cause of the outbreak.
Several organizations participated in the outbreak containment, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and the Lagos state government. Although the index patient died five days after the arrival in Lagos, it was possible to contain the further spread. Epidemiologists thoroughly assessed the patient’s actions and established the list of contacts, transferring approximately 900 people to the isolation wards. Moreover, Port Health Services helped with the initial investigation and addressed the potential problems of further infection via airlines and airport hubs. Lastly, although the authors generally praise the effectiveness of the organizations in containing the outbreak, they note that additional attention is required for identifying and preventing similar threats in the future.
Reference
Shuaib, F., Gunnala, R., Musa, E. O., Mahoney, F. J., Oguntimehin, O., Nguku, P. M.,… & Vertefeuille, J. F. (2014). Ebola virus disease outbreak – Nigeria, July-September 2014. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 63(39), 867.