Newspaper Coverage of Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic in Nigeria: Implications for Prevention and Control
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International Journal of Communication and Health
Abstract
Description
Ebola virus disease (otherwise referred to as EVD) broke out in Nigeria in July, 2014. The epidemic which
raged on for nearly three months, came to an end with the World Health Organization declaring Nigeria Ebola free in
October, 2014. This study analyzed newspaper coverage of the epidemic during the period. It examined the nature
and extent of coverage of EVD in three widely circulated newspapers in Nigeria. Between July, 2014 and October,
2014, 1118 articles about EVD in The Guardian, The Punch, and Vanguard newspapers were indentified and
analyzed. The study revealed that the most common EVD theme covered by newspaper articles within the period
was Government/ Institutional measures and response (271 articles), followed by cases of EVD in Nigeria (270
articles). Most importantly, the study observed that newspaper coverage of the EVD epidemic had implications for
prevention and control, as portrayed by the commendations of individuals, corporate bodies and the Government.
Keywords
QH301 Biology, QP Physiology, QR355 Virology, R Medicine (General), Z665 Library Science. Information Science