The Federal Government has immediately stepped up inspection and disease surveillance across entry points in the country following announcement by the WHO of a confirmed case of the dreaded Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, who announced the measures over the weekend, called on relevant stakeholders and the general public to immediately report any sign of illness especially hemorrhagic fevers, to public health officials.
The minister disclosed that health officials at the ports have been directed to step up inspection activities and to report any sick person or suspects. Such sick persons are to be referred to the chief epidemiologist in the state where there are present and relevant tests conducted.
He assured that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is on ground and equipped to secure the health of citizens and that Nigerians had no cause for anxiety.
In 2014, Nigeria was first to effectively contain and eliminate an Ebola outbreak which ravaged three other countries in the West African region, including Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. Much of the healthcare delivery, disease surveillance and mass mobilization strictures which proved effective then are believed to still be in place.
