•A team from Doctors Without Borders dons protective clothing and equipment as they prepare to treat Ebola patients in an isolation ward of Mbandaka Hospital in Congo
Nigerians have been advised to avoid all but essential trips to Uganda and other countries with confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases.
The advisory followed the January 30 confirmation of the outbreak of the Sudan strain of Ebola virus in Wakiso, Mukono and Mbale City by the Ugandan Ministry of Health, reports The Nation.
“Ugandan health authorities are currently tracking 44 contacts to curb further spread,” Idris said.
Swinging into action, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris said the agency was reinforcing surveillance at entry points, updating emergency response plans and expanding diagnostic capacity in key laboratories.
He however clarified that Nigeria has no recorded cases.
He disclosed that in response to the development, the NCDC has: “Updated its EVD emergency contingency plan. Increased screening at points of entry, particularly international airports.
“Optimised diagnostic capacity for EVD testing in designated laboratories and mobilised Lassa fever testing laboratories, which can be scaled up for Ebola testing if needed.”
The director Director General of NCDC assured Nigerians that proactive steps were being taken to mitigate any risk of an outbreak.
“While there is no immediate cause for panic, we must remain vigilant. The Ebola Sudan strain has no approved vaccine, making early detection and containment critical,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to adhere to the following preventive measures:” Practice good hand hygiene – wash hands regularly with soap and water or use hand sanitisers.
“Avoid contact with persons showing symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding.
“Refrain from consuming bush meat, especially bats and primates.
“Seek immediate medical attention if experiencing symptoms after travelling to an affected country.”
Additionally, he advised health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, use personal protective equipment (PPE), and report suspected cases immediately.
In the travel advisory yesterday, Dr. Idris noted that while the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not imposed travel restrictions on Uganda, anyone returning from affected areas within the last 21 days who develops fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding should immediately call 6232 or their state health hotline for assessment.
He advised such travellers to self-isolate and await response teams for further evaluation and possible transport to a treatment center.
The NCDC boss said the public health advisory became necessary because EVD has a 25-90% fatality rate and spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated objects, and wild animals like bats, chimpanzees, and monkeys.
Besides, he stressed that while vaccines exist for some strains of the Ebola virus, the approved vaccine for the Zaire strain is not currently available in Nigeria and does not protect against the Sudan strain responsible for the outbreak in Uganda.
Given this, he urged Nigerians to practice good hygiene, avoid bush meat and report symptoms immediately to prevent potential outbreaks.
He also advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, enforce strict isolation for suspected cases, adhere to infection control protocols, and report immediately to health authorities.
Beyond Ebola, Idris said that the country is currently battling outbreaks of Lassa fever, meningitis, diphtheria, Mpox, measles and anthrax.
Idris assured that the NCDC will continue to enhance surveillance, expand diagnostic capacity, and coordinate with global health organisations.
