'I think the fear of Ebola virus disease is the beginning of good living', seem that's what we should call it right now. This is because a Nigerian girl was placed on ban by a US school over the fear for EVD, which according to medical report, this Nigerian girl is certified as never been infected with this ebola, or in any way come in contact with anyone carrying this virus.
But following the ban placed on this 7-year old girl by her School in the US 'Connecticut elementary school' her father then take it as a sort of discriminatory act, and as such drags the school to court, for having banned his daughter from attending school for 21-days, after returning from Nigeria where they went for a wedding.
You can get the full information right here on Reuters below;
Connecticut elementary school, USAOpayemi's daughter has not experienced any symptoms associated with Ebola and her health is fine, but parents and teachers were concerned she could transmit Ebola to other children, the lawsuit says.
"We're hoping this will get her back into school as soon as possible," the girl's mother, Ikeolapo Opayemi, said in a brief interview at their home.
Although the mother declined to discuss details of the lawsuit, citing the advice of the family's attorney, she said they had lived in Milford for more than six years. Asked if she was surprised by the school system's actions, she nodded in agreement.
Nigeria had 20 Ebola cases and eight deaths this year before the World Health Organization declared the country Ebola-free on Oct. 19. The epidemic is centered in three other West African countries, where about 5,000 people have died: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The Connecticut third-grader, Ikeoluwa Opayemi, traveled to and from Lagos, Nigeria, between Oct. 2 and Oct. 13, according to the lawsuit. Her father, a native of Nigeria, also went.
Jonathan Berchem, the Milford city attorney, said he had not seen the suit and could not comment on it. Elizabeth Feser, the school superintendent, did not return a call requesting comment but said in an email she had not been served with the suit.
African communities in the United States have reported an increasing amount of ostracism since the Ebola epidemic began. At least two speeches by Liberians have been canceled by U.S. universities, and a college in Texas refused admission to Nigerian students over worries about the virus.
A neighbor of the Opayemi family, Prashant Batil, said his 6-year-old plays often with Ikeoluwa and that he believed the school system was overreacting.
"The parents are extremely responsible people, and if they say she does not have Ebola, I would have no reluctance for my daughter to play with her," Batil said in an interview.
Opayemi's suit was filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The law prohibits discrimination based on someone having a physical or mental impairment, or on the belief that someone has such an impairment.
Milford officials refused the father's offer to have both himself and his daughter screened for Ebola, the suit says.
According to the suit, a city health official said in an Oct. 15 meeting that the risk of the girl infecting anyone was minor but that she ought to be quarantined because of rumors, panic and the climate of the school.
City and school officials told Ikeoluwa not to return to school until Nov. 3, the suit says.
The case is Ikeoluwa Opayemi v. Milford Public Schools and City of Milford, U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, No. 3:14-cv-01597.
No comments:
Post a Comment