5 Strange ways people respond to Ebola Virus

5 Strange ways people respond to Ebola Virus
The Ebola Virus (EVD) which came into Nigeria in July 2014 has left a lot of Nigerians living in fear. In an effort to protect themselves from the deadly virus many people have adopted strange preventive measures that range from the ordinary to the dramatic.
The following are some of the preventive methods adopted:
1. Refusal of Handshakes: Most people have stopped receiving handshakes from other people; they would rather take a verbal greeting only, and would not dare touch the person they are greeting at all. While some other persons just punch fists more popularly called “chop knuckle”
2. Wearing of nylon masks and gloves: Nigerians now in a bid to prevent them from being infected with the EVD wear different body covers, such as the nylon or rubber gloves, on their hands, arms, and some on their entire body, when they are in public places.
3. Using objects on ATMS: In banking transactions, Nigerians have devised funny means of not touching the ATM’s buttons. Some have been seen wrapping nylon around their hands or using biros, paper and even stones to punch the ATM keypads.
4. Bleach rinsing: Some people have also taken to rinsing their children off with a bleach solution before and after school.
5. Isolation: The deadly virus has caused many to live in isolation even in the offices. In offices, some have gone as far as refusing to handle each other’s flash drives. A woman who also saw an old friend she hadn’t seen in years made an attempt to hug her but the woman retracted saying “Don’t you know Ebola is in town?” This has strained their relationship now. Passengers at a bus-stop in Guinea also fled the scene where an elderly man was vomiting, leaving the old man sick and helpless.