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Gambia, Ebola and the Blessings of Geography

Although the deadly Ebola virus is spreading far and wide, a closer look at the outbreak in our corner of the world is showing a slightly different picture. The epidemic has so far claimed at least 4,877 lives, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and these are largely in West Africa. However, the epidemic has so far been confined to mainly, three countries: Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. You can’t help but wonder, not for being an advocate of doom, why other countries like Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Côte d’Ivoire have so far managed to avoid the virus? Note that some of these countries share borders with badly afflicted countries like Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.

With the regular movement of people across these otherwise very porous borders, one is inclined to conclude that it’s the sheer luck of the draw that these countries haven’t had any cases reported so far. The threat posed by open borders has left the affected countries with no choice other than sealing themselves off albeit gradually, to prevent the Ebola virus from being passed on. This has resulted in severe economic consequences, however. In Gambia, the current tourist season is billed to be the worst in many years as some of the tour operators have cancelled visits that normally bring in a large number of tourists from Europe.

When the outbreak was announced in Guinea, the shrewd and forward thinking authorities in Senegal moved in time to shield off their border following the announcement of the first few cases in Guinea in March. One can safely say this and other actions taken at the main port of entry - banning flights to and from affected countries - is what shielded Gambia from the spread of the Ebola virus, given the geography of Senegambia.

With the longstanding vulnerability of Gambia’s borders with Senegal, which surrounds Gambia on all sides except the Atlantic Ocean, it is obvious any outbreak of the Ebola virus in Senegal could easily be spilled into Gambia at a very fast pace. Therefore, Gambia’s geography is a larger blessing that helped stop the spread of Ebola to its shores.

Experts at the WHO and other international organizations said that while border controls may have had “a small effect” on the situation in West Africa, a key difference “was that other countries had been forewarned,” which allowed them to “set up systems to prevent further infections.” The difference made by the rapid response can be seen in Senegal’s success with its one Ebola case. Even with its border closed, Senegal reported its first case on August 29, after a Guinean university student traveled by road to Dakar. He was treated and recovered, while all his possible contacts were singularly traced and monitored. On October 17, WHO declared the outbreak in Senegal officially over. The strong and sophisticated healthcare system in Senegal and the steadfastness of their authorities in tracking down exposed people helped stem the incident. WHO said the “most important lesson for the world at large is this: an immediate, broad-based, and well-coordinated response can stop the Ebola virus dead in its tracks.” Senegal has proven the two key elements in containing the spread are community mobilization and the preparedness of the public health system. It is thus clear that Gambia’s geography is largely responsible in helping shield it from the spread of the virus by virtue of Senegal’s effort in so far, stemming the spread.

Obviously, the most effective and proven way to contain the spread of Ebola is nothing beyond the proper tracking of the epidemic and those infected, containment within communities and caring for those infected. Senegal is doing all this for Gambia indirectly, by virtue of its geography. Many experts have agreed that border closings alone will not contain the spread of the virus. Although Ebola has not spread quickly beyond Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, it’s clear that neighboring countries in West Africa need to remain vigilant. The worst is yet to come, according to WHO, but for now Gambia can count her blessings on her geography and the vigilance of her neighbor, the Senegalese authorities.

--
-Laye
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"With fair speech thou might have thy will,
With it thou might thy self spoil."
--The R.M

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