By Uche Mbah
As a suspected case of Corona virus is detected in Ivory Coast, Health officials warn that the Virus can be spread at its incubation period-that is, when the Virus shows no symptoms.
A female student has been reported to have been quarantined for further observation in Ivory coast after showing flu-like symptoms. She has lived in China for five years.
Though the incubation period varies from one day to two weeks, according to experts, indications are that it can easily be spread during this period- a situation that automatically places it higher than SARS and Ebola on the risk index.
Airports all over the world have put up measures to screen travelers for the virus amid pressures on the World Health Organization to declare it a global epidermic. Nigerian Aviation authorities have also beefed up security at the airports, with the Federal Airports Authority, FAAN, working closely with the Ministry of health to curb the menace.
There has been palpable fears that the Nigerian health authorities are currently ill prepared to handle such a crisis of global proportions. The Virus is currently to be found in thirteen countries, with over 2000 people infected. About a hundred are reported dead globally.
Nigeria has been battling Lassa fever for years now, and there is a current epidermic that has spread to over ten states of the country, killing many including two health workers. Conflicting figures of the number of casualties indicate the lack of preparedness of the health authorities.
But the spokesperson of the Aviation regulatory body, Sam Adurogboye, insists that the industry is prepared for any eventualities. He explained that since the Ebola crisis, a standard crisis response team has always been on ground to handle issues.
“We are ready for any eventuality. FAAN has been collaborating with federal health officials to screen passengers”, he told this Magazine.
Reminded of the same security measures in Place during Ebola yet Patrick Sawyer was able to sneak in , he said the Industry is more prepared now ever than before.
Recall that a Liberian American, Patric Sawyer, brought Ebola to Nigeria in a lucky period when the health workers were on strike, hence he was taken to a private hospital for treatment. Analysts believe that if he had landed in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, the Nigerian Case would have been worse than that of the Democratic republic Of Congo.
