title: Ebola epidemic--the Nigerian experience.
abstract: The current West African ebola epidemic has been described as the most unprecedented in the history of the disease. Nigeria reported its first case of the disease in July, 2014, at the end of the epidemic 20 people were infected and eight of them died. The epidemic resulted in increased knowledge of the disease as well as some misconceptions, increase in household and community hygiene practice and change in social interaction between affected individuals and the community. Prompt response by the government, with the support of international partners and proactive engagement of public health measures resulted in the rapid control of the epidemic; an experience the country hopes to leverage upon in subsequent epidemics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ugochukwu Uchenna
authors.initials: UU
authors.lastname: Onyeonoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Uchechi Chukwudike
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Ekpemiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Chuku
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abali
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Huldah Ijeoma
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Nwokeukwu
mesh_terms: D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Ebola; Nigeria; hygiene; impact; public health