Not since HIV reared its ugly head have we seen a virus of such deadly proportions.
Like HIV Ebola can also be transmitted through body fluids but like its nemesis it is not a sexually transmitted disease. However, I believe that like HIV, Ebola too can be contained through concerted and militant efforts of Governments, Donor and Multilateral Agencies.
Addressing a United Nations assembly in New York, President Jacob Zuma correctly pointed out that if Ebola had broken out in more developed nations the outbreak could have easily been contained.
I have to agree with him on this score. Since the pandemic broke out in March this year it has exposed Africa’s health system which has been deemed inadequate in most parts to deal effectively with the virus.
There was a special plenary session at the United Nations assembly focusing on Ebola with calls to rally international support in fighting the pandemic. This highlights the gravity of the problem on African soil.
To date the United Nations has been in the forefront in efforts to control the spread of the virus. It is high time that Africa stepped up too in taking a lead in efforts to contain the scourge. South Africa, despite not having any reported cases of Ebola has taken initiative with concrete plans to set up a 40 bed hospital in Guinea for Ebola patients.
This hospital will assist in efforts of monitoring and further evaluation of the virus.
The American Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between 550 000 and 1,4 million people in West Africa could be affected by the disease in January 2015.
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This by no means a small number and these estimations are based on the fact of the exponential growth in transmission of the virus. The deadly virus causes death through internal bleeding.
It was first discovered in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) in the ’70s and this century has witnessed outbreaks between 2007 and 2009 however none have been severe as the current outbreak.
As we live in a global village we have achieved accessibility through travel thus making the spread of the disease from one region to another easy.
The outbreak of Ebola was first detected in Guinea in March this year. To date there have been over 1 000 cases with 632 confirmed deaths. Since then it has spread to four other African countries: Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone.
Liberia has 3 022 reported cases with over 1 500 deaths. Sierra Leone reported 1 813 cases and 593 deaths. Nigeria which has suffered 8 deaths out of 20 reported cases has proudly proclaimed to have eradicated all traces of Ebola.
Though some tend to view such proclamations as premature.
Not only have patients succumbed to the virus but health workers too.
These men and women in moon suits have also put their lives on the line in order to curtail the spread of the disease. It is reported that to date 250 health workers have died.
However health workers not only have to fear contracting the virus but the wrath of communities in the villages they work.
More often than not, health workers in their protective gear are being viewed with suspicion and acrimony.
Many communities feel that it is health workers who brought the virus into their villages and as such it is uncommon for health workers to suffer at the hands of aggressive and militant communities.
This is largely fuelled by misinformation and myths surrounding the disease.
There is some areas a misguided belief that Ebola is a conspiracy to eradicate certain tribes, organ and blood harvesting.
Some patients have resisted being hospitalised as they believe it’s a “death sentence”.
Furthermore in some villages, there has been a resistance towards the use of so called “Western medicine” in favour of more trusted traditional medicines.
Additionally due to the risk of contagion in traditional burial practices health workers have had to bury Ebola victims in body bags. This further raises suspicion that bodies are being used for illicit rituals.
It becomes apparent that there needs to be a greater awareness campaign to demystify and educate people about the disease.
Ebola awareness needs to be raised in the same way the AIDS campaign was. Many of us will recall how AIDS sufferers were stigmatised when the disease was still in its infancy.
Yet now HIV is just another chronic illness like diabetes which can be effectively managed with medication.
So let us work towards eradicating Ebola before it eradicates us.
Sue Nyathi is the author of the novel The Polygamist. You can follow her on Twitter @SueNyathi
