Health

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Saturday that in response to the expanding outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria has stepped up national surveillance and emergency preparedness measures against Ebola virus disease. Nigeria has not reported any confirmed cases connected to the ongoing regional outbreak, according to a new public health advisory released by NCDC Director-General Jide Idris on Sunday. However, the agency cautioned that the risk of importation remains high due to international travel, population movement, and the extent of transmission in affected East African countries. According to the agency's most recent risk assessment, international points of entry, key transportation hubs, and border communities are high-risk sites that need closer observation.

Nigerians were reassured by the FG on Wednesday that there are presently no confirmed cases of the Ebola virus in the nation and that steps have been taken to improve the country's response and readiness mechanisms.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control destroyed counterfeit and unregistered pharmaceutical products worth about N2bn in Kaduna State on Thursday. The destruction exercise was conducted at the Gonin Gora dumpsite in Kaduna and involved consignments of fake Pregabalin capsules that were intercepted before entering the Nigerian market. Speaking at the exercise, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC, Martins Iluyomade, said the operation demonstrated the agency’s determination to curb the circulation of fake and substandard drugs. The seized Pregabalin capsules were counterfeit products falsely sold as registered medicines approved by the agency, he said.

At least 80 people have reportedly died following a fresh outbreak of the Ebola virus in three health zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo — Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu — according to figures released by the World Health Organisation on Sunday. In response to the development, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said it has intensified surveillance efforts across the country. The agency disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director-General, Jide Idris.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has informed the public about the spread of fake Augmentin 625mg tablets in Nigeria. The FDA stated in a statement released on Friday that the alert was prompted by complaints from the legitimate maker of Augmentin, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), regarding potential counterfeit versions of the drug in use. GSK verified that the product was fake after examining "documentary evidence, photographs, and a video from social media," according to NAFDAC.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has assured the public that the average person has little reason to fear contracting hantavirus, as global health authorities continue to monitor a recent outbreak linked to a cruise ship voyage in South America. The reassurance comes amid growing concern over a cluster of hantavirus infections connected to passengers aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. In Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said no case of hantavirus has been recorded in the country and that surveillance systems remain active.