By Uche Onyedika
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has declared that Nigeria has remained free of the resurgent Ebola virus in Africa, though the Federal Government has continued to intensify surveillance and emergency response efforts following the escalating outbreak in DR Congo and a reported case in Uganda.
Among the concerted efforts introduced by the federal government in the last week, include the convening by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in collaboration with relevant MDAs, of a National Cross-Border Surveillance Stakeholder Engagement to strengthen surveillance at Points of Entry and address gaps in response to recent outbreaks.
Similarly, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has placed the aviation sector on high alert over the renewed outbreak, ordering stricter health surveillance and screening measures at international airports across the country to prevent the possible importation of the disease.
Also, in collaboration with Port Health Services, the NCDC and other relevant agencies, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has activated additional health surveillance and screening measures across Nigeria’s international airports following the recent outbreaks.
It urged the public to: remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation, practise regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with bodily fluids of sick persons, avoid contact with dead animals or bushmeat from unknown sources, report unusual illnesses promptly to the nearest health facility, and follow updates only from official public health authorities.