The UK Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin has described as shameful the decision by a school in the UK to prevent a Ghanaian teacher from visiting due to Ebola concerns.
The trip by the Ghanaian teacher was postponed after parents raised concerns about Ebola virus even though the country is yet to record a case.
Reacting to the story in a tweet, the ambassador said it’s a “shame: there have been no Ebola cases in Ghana”.
A shame: there have been no Ebola cases in Ghana > “@Citi973: UK school stops Ghanaian teacher’s visit over Ebola http://t.co/ggRH7y2YTT”
— Jon Benjamin (@JonBenjamin19) October 16, 2014
[contextly_sidebar id=”4WIl9c2OS2AXmqCMBEhxeSh65TgwQxvZ”]A research by Oxford University in the United Kingdom has revealed that Ghana and 14 other countries in Africa are at risk of animal-to-human transmission of Ebola by virtue of their geography.
A research conducted by the Northeastern University, USA also named Ghana as countries with the largest probability of witnessing an outbreak of the Ebola disease on October 31
Government has however downplayed the research findings, insisting that Ghana has put in place measures to prevent an outbreak in the country.
“I don’t know how they came by that date [October 31] or how they did their analysis. But I want to assure you that in Ghana we have Ebola preparedness and a response plan underpinned by a three-pronged strategy; public education, screening and effective case management. We are satisfied with what we have seen,” Dr. Kwaku Agyemang, the Minister of Health stated.
The deadly disease has so far killed over 4,000 in the West African sub-region.
About the Ebola Virus
Ebola, a viral haemorrhagic fever, is one of the deadliest diseases known to humans, with a fatality rate of between 55% and 90%. It is spread through contact with the bodily fluids of Ebola patients showing symptoms.
Syptoms of Ebola virus disease (EVD)
- Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage
- Fatality rate can reach 90% – but the current outbreak is about 55%
- Incubation period is two to 21 days
- There is no vaccine or cure
- Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting can help recovery
- Fruit bats are considered to be the virus’ natural host
By: Mawuli Tsikata/citifmonline.com/Ghana