Ebola Crisis in West Africa: Ghana to Host African Nations Cup 2015 as Morocco Pulls out Over Fears of Ebola / Africa News

Morocco is the host nation for the tournament which is due to begin in January next year but gave a strong indications that it would pull out if the date for the tournament is not postponed for the Ebola virus to be brought under control.

Seychelles forfeited their Nations Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone

Seychelles forfeited their Nations Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone after the country refused to honor the match over fears of Ebola. Sierra Leone is one of the countries badly affected by the disease.

Official figures from the World Health Organization indicate that more than 4,500 people have died from Ebola in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The disease is now also spreading in the US raising fears that it could become a global threat if not managed well.

Ghana’s Youth and Sports minister, Mahama Ayariga told a local radio station, Citi Fm in the capital, Accra that the Confederation of African Football has written officially to the country to consider hosting the tournament.

“CAF wrote to us and indicated that Morocco had given strong indications they would pull out if the date of the tournament is not changed, CAF also indicated that it was firm on the tournament date but they will meet the Moroccan authorities and take a decision at that meeting”.

“But in the meantime they are writing to a number of countries that they think have the capacity to be an alternative venue in the event of Morocco actually pulling out”, Mr. Ayariga said.

Meanwhile, Morocco’s Youth and Sports minister, Mohamed Ouzzine said on Thursday that his country had not withdrawn completely from the tournament but is trying to plead with CAF to postpone the date of the tournament.

“We are talking about the Africa Cup of Nations where we are expecting a lot of people, I don’t think there is any state or any country that has the necessary capabilities to monitor, check and control the current Ebola situation when faced with these numbers”.

“We will discuss these things when we meet with CAF and we might even debate other options. But I beg you, what’s the significance of the financial losses compared to human losses? A human being is priceless”, he said.

The Director for the Center of Disease Control (CDC) in the United States, Dr. Thomas Frieden has said that the Ebola outbreak in West Africa is likely to become the next HIV/AIDS the world has to fight.

According to health experts, Ebola Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and breakdown of central nervous system. The disease is said to spread by body fluids such as blood or saliva.

Fatality rate is said to be around 90% but current outbreak has a mortality rate of about 55% and incubation period is 2 to 21 days. There is no proven vaccine or cure as at now but supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhea and vomiting can help recovery.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News