Coronavirus, now has more cases than the Ebola virus disease of 2014. The Pandemic which was confirmed in Nigeria on the 27 February 2020, has shocked the world so great that sport matches are suspended, schools closed, as well as markets, and the economy, to a large extent witnessing a decline.
But then Coronavirus isn’t the first of its kind to be imported to Nigeria. There was once the Ebola Virus Disease, which originated in Guinea on 25 March 2014, and imported to Nigeria on 20 July 2014.
Nigeria was able to contain Ebola, and on 20 October 2014, WHO declared Nigeria Ebola Free.
It should be noted that there were only 20 confirmed cases of Ebola in Nigeria, with 8 deaths. Coronavirus cases, however have exceeded 50.
Here are crucial differences as to how Coronavirus Disease differs from Ebola Virus :
Coronavirus can go unnoticed while Ebola Virus isn’t Hidden
According to WHO, people may be sick for 1 – 14 days before developing symptoms for Coronavirus. This makes it hard to ascertain whether a sick person now, has Coronavirus or is just Sick (needing treatment) .
On the other hand, the symptoms for Ebola Virus show up 2 – 21 days after infection, and they include a host of illness such as: stomach pain, headache, high fever, vomiting blood and so on.
Coronavirus transmits through air While Ebola Virus is by physical contact
Coronavirus can exist in respiratory droplets that people sneeze or cough; hence the face masks. Ebola virus, on the other hand, can be contacted through physical contact with infected bodily fluids such as sweat, urine, breast milk, semen, and saliva.
Fatality Rate for Coronavirus is Low Compared to Ebola Virus
Of the over 400,000 confirmed cases of Coronavirus, there have only been over 20,000 deaths so far, with over 100,000 recovered. This puts the fatality rate of Coronavirus low when compared to the Ebola virus, which, from 2014, recorded a total number of reported cases as 28,000, with about 11,000 deaths.
So far, we would have observed that the major problem the world is having with Coronavirus is its fast spread. Going by the recovery rate, it shouldn’t be placed in the same category as Ebola virus, that is highly deadly.
Read also: 5 Signs Coronavirus Isn’t the End of Humanity
