Health organizations all over the world are still fighting the most serious breakout of the Ebola Virus in history. Meanwhile, all schools in Nigeria were forced to shut down until October.
BBC News had an interview with Ibrahim Shekaru, the Education Minister of Nigeria. He said "All state ministries of education are to immediately organize and ensure that at least two staff in each school, both private and public, are trained by appropriate health workers no later than Sept. 15 on how to handle any suspected case of Ebola, And also embark on immediate sensitization of all teaching and non-teaching staff in all schools on preventive measures."
The academic year for Nigeria was supposed to start this Monday. However, the Education Minister announced that he will now use the time to train faculty to be able to recognize possible Ebola virus patients.
So far over 1,400 people have died from the Ebola virus across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone since the outbreak earlier last year. WHO (World Health Organization) has been providing updates on the situation in West Africa and the fight against the Ebola Virus. They reported that an unprecedented number of doctors and nurses have also been contaminated from the virus, creating more and more obstacles to develop an effective vaccine.
Because of the rising difficulties, WHO had to shut down a vaccine research laboratory that was based in Kailahun. They explained that too many faculty were at risk at being contaminated.
Goodluck Jonathan, President of Nigeria
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government is under full alert of the situation and is working to locate and report additional Ebola contaminants. Goodluck Jonathan, the president of Nigeria declared a national state of emergency concerning the still rampant Ebola virus. It is reported that he had approved 11.7 million dollars in emergency funds to contain the virus.
The president warned however that providing false information regarding the disease could start "mass hysteria, panic and misdirection, including unverified suggestions about the prevention, treatment, cure and spread of the virus."
