Nigeria has been placed on high alert over what has now been described as Ebola Virus Importation.
This is even as other countries have equally rolled out measures seeking to contain the disease.
It is not a new disease but the manner of its resurgence is giving agencies and national governments the cause for concern.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has placed the country on heightened Ebola alert, that Nigeria faces a high risk of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, importation, amid worsening.
The agency pegs its concern on the recent outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, and Uganda.
Director-General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, in an emergency update said the Ebola Virus Importation caution had become necessary despite that the country had not recorded any confirmed Ebola case linked to the ongoing regional outbreak.
He referred to its latest dynamic risk assessment identified international travel, population movement, porous borders, and delayed symptom recognition as major factors increasing Nigeria’s vulnerability.
According to him, the assessment estimated the risk of Ebola importation into Nigeria as high due to the following:
- ongoing transmission in the DRC and Uganda
- international travel and population movement
- uncertainty regarding the full magnitude of the outbreak
- possible delayed recognition because symptoms may overlap with malaria and Lassa fever the statement said.
Other precautions taken by the NCDC:
- identification of high-risk states, border communities
- identification of transport hubs and points of entry had already been identified for intensified monitoring.
- placement of the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) under alert
- Activation of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to coordinate rapid national response efforts.
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According to NCDC, Rapid Response Teams and epidemiologists across the country have also been placed on standby for immediate deployment to any state where a suspected case may emerge.
The agency said surveillance activities had been strengthened nationwide, especially at airports, border communities and health facilities, with officials monitoring alerts, rumours and unusual disease patterns to ensure early detection.
“NCDC is intensifying event-based surveillance and epidemic intelligence activities across the country,” the statement added.
Ebola Infection Prevention and Control, IPC, readiness tools and checklists had earlier been distributed to hospitals nationwide, while healthcare workers were undergoing refresher sensitisation on triage systems, case identification and protective protocols, the agency also informed.
States, the NCDC noted, had also been directed to designate isolation and treatment centres, assess bed capacity, strengthen ambulance and referral systems and stock essential emergency supplies.
“NCDC has developed and disseminated Ebola myths and facts materials to address misinformation and false claims circulating online,” the agency stated.
Other measures it is taking include:
- Urging the public to maintain regular hand hygiene, avoid direct contact with body fluids of sick persons, promptly report unexplained illnesses or deaths, and avoid spreading unverified information.
- Travellers from countries with confirmed Ebola cases to monitor their health for 21 days and immediately report symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting or unexplained bleeding.
- Healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and strictly comply with infection prevention protocols, including proper use of PPE and immediate isolation of suspected cases.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary,” Dr. Idris however reassured.
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