Following the discovery of a new case of Ebola Virus Disease in Liberia, the Federal Government said it had ordered that security and surveillance be beefed across the nation’s borders with a view to checking possible spread of the virus into the country.
The Director, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Prof. Abdulsalami Nasidi, while speaking with Saturday PUNCH, said the Federal Ministry of Health was closely monitoring the situation in Liberia and also working in harmony with the World Health Organisation and other international agencies with a view to checking the ‘importation’ of EVD.
He said, “We have the Port Health Services and we have already authorised them to step up their activities and responses and ensure thorough checks on travellers coming into the country.
“We have strengthened our emergency operation centre; also our information and communication department are on top of the situation.
“We are also monitoring what is happening in Liberia. We are working in harmony with WHO and other international agencies,” he said.
The Director of Press and Public Relations in the FMoH, Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba, in a statement had advised Nigerians not to panic.
She said, “Nigerians should not panic but must be aware and be vigilant. Members of the public are advised to observe basic hygiene and report any suspected case to the nearest health facility. It must be noted that the main symptoms of the Ebola Virus Disease are fever, severe headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Patients in some cases also have neurological symptoms of becoming confused and restless.”
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