Fearing Ebola!

The Ebola Fear in Me! This past week has been a lot of stress for me. Having to ensure that my babies are fine, and playing my new role as a dad has been all hectic. And I seem to be coping; several comments have testified to that from friends. Then, the news about the Ebola Virus hits the social space. It didn’t ring much a bell to me about how grave it was and will be for us in Nigeria, until a Blackberry Broadcast hit my phone! It had informed that a Liberian guest to Nigeria, fully infected with the virus, was in a hospital close to my office. He was being managed and a few hours later, the news about his demise, broke. Now the big deal, it was on all media platforms. And the description of this virus was sending chills down the spine of everyone that read about it. I had a need to check my little baby who had to see a doctor in hospital, but I have been more worried lately about the hospitals. I am worried about the patients that come in. I am worried about the air that permeates the hospital environment, much as I worry about anyone sneezing or coughing around the hospital. I just can’t come to terms with the description of this deadly scourge that has defied every known attempt to bring it to its knees. I really don’t know how much efforts have been put into the fight to stop the spread here in Nigeria, but I just worry about commuting in a bus. I worry about the bus stops and the people around it. I am nearly tempted to get a nose mask as I commute, and I don’t know how this will appear to onlookers. But it seems that’s about the best and easiest way to manage the situation now. In a few days, I will need to travel through our nation’s airspace. I am worried a lot. I am worried about the passengers I may have to travel with for the duration of my flight. I am indeed very worried about it. I am worried about the check-in, which is often very laborious and slow, making everyone sweaty and irritant. I hear the virus lives in man’s sweat. I hear it is so dangerous that it stubbornly lives like an untamed warrior in the body of its dead victim. This informs the decision by international health professionals to ensure disposal of Ebola victims using every means possible, but casual burying! I am just mortified. I just hope that a vaccine is found, today and now. I have read all I could about this, and I just hope we find a quick cure to it. I am saddened by the fact that a number of professionals who have been in the forefront of managing some sick Ebola victims have had to pay the supreme price, with their lives. I worry that people who know more about health precautions and the Ebola virus have bowed to this dreaded king. I now wonder and worry for people who have little knowledge, who depend on these professionals for advice; I wonder how we will handle monster. Now, everyone seem to know that between HIV and Ebola, there’s a better choice! I hope the lone reported case has been crushed. At least, I read the dead man was cremated and disposed of, while everyone who traveled with him on that flight from Liberia en-route Lome has been traced for close clinical observation. I hope the cabin crew members that served the aircraft he traveled on have also been identified. The man who cleaned his first vomit as reported, also. I hope the immigration officers on duty as he arrived the MMIA have also been checked. I just feel sorry about all these pains we have to manage. I hope that this dream comes to an end and we don’t all have to be swept to our graves, in pains!