Award winning Nollywood actor Jim Iyke has
fled Liberia, following a huge scare of the deadly Ebola virus in that country.
The Nigerian actor sparked outrage
after posting an image of himself wearing an Ebola mask while sitting in a
first class airport lounge as he flees Liberia.
'Nollywood' star Jim Iyke posted a message on
his Instagram page saying he had cut short a business trip to Monrovia in
Liberia - where at least 600 people have already died from the disease.
The image of Iyke sitting on green
leather-clad seats in the airport's luxury first class lounge while wearing an
expensive designer watch and sunglasses was accompanied with the caption: 'Not
ashamed to admit this scares the Jesus outta me #Ebola.'
Ebola virus is currently spreading across West
Africa and it is the biggest viral infection that been recorded in the region
in recent times.
The virus is believed to have killed 672
people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since the outbreak began in
February, according to the World Health Organisation.
The Nollywood actor posted a photo on
Instagram of himself at the airport in Monrovia, capital of Liberia, about to
jet off from that country.
According to Jim Iyke, the Ebola pandemic has
forced him to cut short his business activities in Liberia.
“Monrovia, unfinished biz (business);
Leavin(g) tonite (tonight). Nt (Not) ashamed to admit. Tis ish(issue) scares
the Jesus outta me. #Ebola!!!!” he posted on Instagram.
The actor later posted a photo having
breakfast at a location suspected to be Madrid, Spain.
He said: “Breakfast; somewhere serene. Glad to
be away frm all the madness. Thank u lord 4 everytime u hide me in ur pavilion.
#Ikechukwu”.
Ebola virus disease (EVD) or Ebola hemorrhagic
fever (EHF) is the human disease caused by the ebola virus. Symptoms typically
start two days to three weeks after contacting the virus with a fever, throat
and muscle pains, and headaches. There is then typically nausea, vomiting and
diarrhoea, along with decreased functioning of the liver and kidneys. At this
point some people begin to have problems with bleeding.
The disease is usually acquired when a person
comes into contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected animal such
as a monkey or fruit bat.
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Fear: Much of the anger on social media stems
from fear among Nigerian citizens that Iyke (pictured left and right) appeared
to be travelling back to the country from Liberia without having had tests to see
if he is infected
The contrast between Iyke's image of first
class luxury is in stark contrast to the thousands of terrified Liberians who
are living in fear of contracting the deadly disease.
However, much of the anger about his image
stemmed from fear among Nigerian citizens that Iyke appeared to be travelling
back to the country without having been tested to see if he was infected.
Twitter user @Avariberry posted a message
reading: 'Jim Iyke or Not... he gotta be screened. #TestJimIyke.'
Meanwhile @IcallDibbz_ said: 'Please ooo,
James Ikechukwu, aka Jim Iyke, should be quarantined.'
Others picked up on the fact Iyke had an
expensive face mask to protect himself, but was wearing a short-sleeved
T-shirt.
Ebola is transmitted through close contact
with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals,
and in many parts of West Africa people are being told to cover as much of
their body as possible to ensure the infection doesn't enter their bloodstream
through a small cut.
Iyke has appeared in more than 150 films,
including Last Flight to Abuja, and is the founder of the Jim Iyke Foundation
for Children with Special Disabilites.
He began acting in 2001 and is one of the
highest paid actors in Nollywood - Nigeria's answer to Hollywood.
Deadly: Ebola is transmitted through close
contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected
animals. Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and damage to the nervous
system, with 90 per cent of those infected dying
Concern: Ebola (above) has already killed 672
people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and infected more than 1,200 since
it was first diagnosed in February. Symptoms include sudden fever, vomiting and
headaches.
Earlier today a woman was quarantined at a
hospital in Hong Kong after falling ill with Ebola-like symptoms when she
returned from a trip to Africa.
The patient, who is said to be exhibiting
symptoms similar to the deadly virus, is undergoing tests to verify the cause
of her illness, local media reported.
It comes as British Foreign Secretary Philip
Hammond today declared the disease a 'very serious threat' as he prepares to
chair an emergency meeting on how to bolster the country's defences.
Airlines around the world are on alert for
cases of the deadly virus, after tests revealed a man died in Nigeria from the
disease, having been allowed to board an international flight from Liberia -
the same route Iyke was travelling.
In Nigeria health officials said today, they
are in the process of tracing 30,000 people at risk of contracting the disease
after coming into contact with the Liberian man.
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