Nigerian president vows to contain Ebola outbreak

Abuja, Aug 12: Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan Monday pledged to contain the spread of the Ebola virus in the country.

The Nigerian leader gave the assurance during an interfaith conference organised by Interfaith Initiative for Peace NGO in capital Abuja, Xinhua reported.

The president said he would meet with the 36 state governors and the state commissioners of health Wednesday to ensure that they were all poised to fight the deadly virus.

The president pleaded with religious leaders in the country to ensure awareness among their followers about the disease.

He noted that 60 percent of the Ebola infections currently in Africa were contracted at the burial ceremonies for those who died of the infection.

"My conversation with the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Margaret Chan, was quite constructive," he added.

On Aug 8, Jonathan declared a national emergency, saying a sum of 1.9 billion naira ($11.6 million) will be released to prevent further spread of the Ebola Virus.

The Ebola virus, transmitted through body fluids, hit African nations of Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, and in recent months spread to other neighbouring countries.

Nearly 1,000 people have died and 1,800 have become infected in West Africa.

IANS