Ebola: FG puts health officials on red alert

The Federal Government has said it is constantly monitoring diseases of public health concern around the world and was observing the Ebola disease outbreak in Guinea Conakry with concern.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, on Monday, disclosed this at the weekly press briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja.

He said, “Nigeria’s Port Health Services have been put on alert on land, sea and air borders and all major hospitals have also been put on notice to alert health workers to have a keen index of suspicion and to check patient travel history, especially at Outpatient Departments, and report concerns to infectious disease focal persons and the state epidemiologists without hesitation.

“Stricter infection prevention and control measures, including personal protective measures, must be taken immediately there is reason to suspect.

“Nigeria is willing to send experienced volunteers from our Centres of Excellence on viral haemorrhagic fever, to support WHO measures to contain Ebola resurgence in our West African subregion. It is important to protect the subregion from the catastrophic burden of dealing with two severe diseases of public health concern.

“We shall work with the West Africa Health Organisation and WHO on strategies to bring this outbreak under control and shall provide regular updates on preparedness, containment and response measures in due course.”

The chairman of PTF, Boss Mustapha, also said the Federal Government was enhancing surveillance at the nation’s borders to respond to recent outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in neighbouring countries.

Mustpaha said, “The PTF is also enhancing surveillance at points of entry to respond to the recent outbreak of Ebola in neighbouring countries, especially, Guinea and the Congo DCR.

“We shall keep a keen eye on it to avoid having to combat with the two deadly diseases at the same time. This is not a task for government alone but for all Nigerians and indeed all members of the public have a role to play.”