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Wednesday 30 July 2014

Jim Iyke Flees Liberia Amid Ebola Scare - 'It scares the Jesus outta me'


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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Anger: Nigerian actor Jim Iyke shared this image of himself wearing an Ebola mask while sitting in a luxury airport lounge in Liberia. At least 600 people have already died from the disease in the country
Anger: Nigerian actor Jim Iyke shared this image of himself wearing an Ebola mask while sitting in a luxury airport lounge in Liberia. At least 600 people have already died from the disease in the country
Jim Iyke
Jim Iyke
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
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
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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