Nigeria: All Private, Public Schools To Remain Closed Till October Over Ebola

SAN FRANCISCO, August 27, (THEWILL) - Nigeria Wednesday ordered all schools to remain closed until October 13, 2014, as authorities continue to implement measures to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola disease that has so far killed 5 victims in the oil-rich West African State.

Schools were scheduled to resume for a new academic year on Monday, September 1.

The announcement is coming barely 24 hours after Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, disclosed the effective containment of the virus with only one patient still being treated for the disease at an isolation facility in Lagos.

Ibrahim Shekarau, Nigeria Minister of Education, who gave the order Wednesday in Abuja, directed that all schools, private or public must before September 15, 2014, have health professionals train at least two employees on how to manage a suspected case of Ebola.

“All state ministries of education are to immediately organise and ensure that at least two staff in each school, both private and public, are trained by appropriate health workers no later than 15 September 2014 on how to handle any suspected case of Ebola.

“And also embark on immediate sensitisation of all teaching and non-teaching staff in all schools on preventive measures,” Shekarau said.

Nigeria recorded only 12 confirmed cases since July when an infected Liberian/American man, Patrick Sawyer transported the disease to Lagos, Nigeria's economic and financial hub, from Monrovia.

Three other West African countries - Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, account for over 90 percent of Ebola cases which is believed to have killed over 1300 persons so far.