An article published in my column (YOU AND YOUR PETS) in sunday newswatch.www.mydailynewswatchng.com

1. EBOLA: THE POSSIBLE BIOTERRORISM ANGLE AND THEORY.
Whether the coming into Nigeria of the dead ('imported') Liberian American 'madman' and his
'madness' (Ebola disease) was deliberate and planned or just pure coincidental at this particular time,
the fact remains solid that this disease is a lethal infection, zoonosis and a strong agent of bio-weaponry,
bio-terrorism and bio-warfare that can be used by other nations, terrorist organizations and insurgence
groups. The effect of that singular occurrence ('his Detonation'!) is still reverberating and affecting all of
us, one way or the other; the scares in government and then its earmarking huge scarce resources for
the containment of the disease (virus), the healthcare professionals and others that are battling day and
night so that it doesn't become a public health crisis or the general fears and trepidations that is putting
everybody on guard, and not to talk of our new status as a country. That is the effect, and may be the
'powers' that pathogen(s) can have on a nation, its system and its people.
Although a greater number of people might now know Ebola virus disease as a deadly and lethal
infection, what most are not aware of, is the fact that this disease is also a first class bioterrorism agent
of mass catastrophe, or to put it bluntly, of mass destruction. And it seems with the deaths, enforced
isolations (quarantine) and the awareness in various media of the disease and the scares it is creating
presently in Nigeria, it will take a long while before we stop the talks and fears about this 'Tokunbo'
disease (and virus ) and get it out of our psyche.
With the harms to humans (sickness and deaths), the sense of fears and trepidations that the
emergence of this disease is precipitating and that is affecting social interactions of the populace, sports
activities and the likes, and with the series of emergency meetings by various political stakeholders at
the top governmental levels or hierachies, it is evidently obvious that this disease is now real, 'live' and
'Direct' to, and among us. And talking about this disease again will not be overemphasizing the fact that
Ebola is not only a disease but also a bio-warfare agent. The above series of events may possibly go to
underline the perfect definition of Bioterrorism as the intentional use of a pathogen or biological
product to cause harm to a human, animal, plant or other living organisms to influence the conduct of
government or to intimidate or coerce a civilian population.
The Ebola viral hemorrhagic disease, just like its other viral hemorrhagic fevers and other biological
warfare agents that we had dealt with in our series over the past weeks and months, is a strong and
potent agent of biological weapon and is even classified tops as a category A agent amongst the other
diseases that were so classified by the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) . The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classified Ebola virus disease as a ‘high priority (biological)
agent that poses a risk to national security because it can be easily disseminated or transmitted from
person to person; result in high mortality rates and have the potential for major public health impact;
might cause public panic and social disruption; and requires special action for public health
preparedness'.
Amongst its other viral hemorrhagic fevers like Marburg disease, Lassa fever etc, Ebola has the highest
mortality rate of the viral hemorrhagic fevers and for now, has no known effective drug for treatment
and vaccine and these factors amongst others makes it a potent and strong candidate for bio-warfare.

2. Fortunately for pet owners of Dogs, cats and birds ,this disease that is transmitted by direct contacts
with the body secretions like blood, stool, semen, urine, saliva, vomits, vaginal discharge and sweat of
infected and obviously sick humans and wild animal species like Gorillas, Chimpanzees Monkeys, Bats,
Antelope has not been documented in pet dogs, cats, birds. Only the feral and 'loose' dogs and cats (not
domesticated ones and pets ) that must scavenge for their foods are at the risk of eating Ebola-infected
animals and of being infected.
The disease is also not an air borne infection and this should go a long way in allaying the fears and
trepidations of not only pet owners but also the generality of the populace with regards to their social
interactions with people and animals, more particularly with their lovely and adorable companions and
friends (pets). Even with that said, pet owners should maintain and improve upon the hygiene and
sanitations of their pets, the environment in which the pets' live and their own personal hygiene and
sanitation.
Ebola is an alien and foreign to us, and with the proper measures, awareness, containment, surveillance
and control it will be 'deported' back to where it came from! .