The federal government has called on Nigerians to
disregard rumours of a positive case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the
country, saying effort had been heightened at the various ports of entry into
the country to ensure that people with illness coming into Nigeria are properly
screened.
In a statement signed by the Director of Media and
Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health, Boade Akinola, the Permanent
Secretary at the Ministry, Abdullaziz Abdullahi, stated that in line with the
World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, a recent risk assessment conducted
by the Nigeria Ebola Preparedness Team indicated that the overall risk of
importation of Ebola virus to Nigeria from Democratic Republic of Congo and
Uganda was low.
He also described as false, an alleged message
circulating on the social media purporting a positive case of Ebola Virus
Disease in the country.
The permanent secretary also called on members of
the public to discourage the circulation of any unverified information, which
he said could cause harm to innocent people and unnecessary panic among the
citizens.
Abdullahi said: “The federal government has assured
its citizens that since the reports of outbreak of EVD in the Democratic
Republic of Congo, heightened surveillance had been on-going at the various
points of entry by officials of the Port Health Services division of the
ministry to prevent importation into Nigeria.
“To this effect, every passenger with illness has
been properly screened and I can say categorically that none of the patients
screened has tested positive for Ebola or any other deadly disease.
“In line with WHO’s guidelines, a recent
preliminary risk assessment conducted by the Nigeria Ebola Preparedness Team
coordinated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control indicated that the
overall risk of importing EVD to Nigeria from Democratic Republic of Congo and
Uganda is low, but we are not resting on our oars in view of trading activities
of Nigerians.
“The Nigerian Government remains fully committed
while working closely with the WHO, state ministries of health, partners and
all other stakeholders to protect the health of all Nigerians. However,
necessary protocols are being followed in line with international health regulations.”
THISDAY learnt from earlier statement signed by the
National Chairman, Aviation Health of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA),
which earlier discountenanced the rumour and explained that there was arrival
of a female passenger from the Democratic Republic of Congo on religious
tourism to Nigeria.
“Following the social media scare making the rounds
as regards a rumoured Ebola case in Lagos, Ports (Aviation) Health office at
the Murtala Muhammed International Airport; Office of the Epidemiologist, Lagos
State Ministry of Health; the Chief Microbiologist and other relevant
authorities have been contacted for clarifications.
“The fact is…an adult female arrived in Nigeria
from DR Congo yesterday (Tuesday) through the MMA (Airline name withheld) for a
church programme. She was acutely ill, feverish
and had episode of vomiting. Her travel history made her a contact suspect for
Ebola, and she was promptly isolated. Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS)
was deployed and she was promptly transferred to the Infectious Diseases Hospital
(IDH) where she was resuscitated and samples taken and sent for Ebola virology.
When the results were out, it was negative for Ebola.
“The subject is well now, and has been discharged
from the hospital. Active state of alert and surveillance however continues. We
are requested to please help stop the spread of this Ebola scare by providing
the facts and promptly dispelling sensational rumours, as mass hysteria is the
last thing Nigerians deserve at this moment,” NMA boss said.
Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda have recently
witnessed a resurgence of the virus in their countries with Ugandan Ministry of
Health announcing on June 11, 2019, the first cross-border case in the current
outbreak.
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