9,728 Nigerian Students To Undergo Ebola Screening At American Universities

Nigerian students and others from the West African region will be subjected to severe health checks as American Universities move to protect their campuses from the deadly Eboola Virus Disease (EVD).

West Africa, especially Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone has witnessed the death of about 1500 people since the present outbreak started.

About 10,906 students (9,728 from Nigeria, 204 from Liberia, 169 from Sierra Leone and 95 from Guinea) are studying at various American Universities and there are concerns that an outbreak may happen with their arrival.

Returning students from these countries are being monitored for fever, their temperatures are also being measured.

Student Pulse gathers that the checks will continue until the risk of contamination has been dismissed.

Dr. Susan Even, student health director at the University of Missouri-Columbia told Fox news that the checks are just a precaution.

"I don't see this as a huge threat on college campuses..but it makes sense when you're communicating with students ... to ask a question or two," she said.

A freshman at the University at Buffalo where 25 Nigerian students have been enrolled said that there is no reason to panic as the virus is spread only though direct contact with bodily fluids and not by sitting next to classmates, University Herald reports.

"As long as everyone keeps their personal space, it should be OK," said 18-year-old Nor said.

At the University of Illinois 30 returning Nigerian students will participate in private Ebola discussions, temperature checks, questionnaires, immunization paperwork and tuberculosis screening.

One Nigerian student who recently arrived at his institution says he does feel stigmatized to have to pass through the screening process which he thinks is normal and neccessary.