The Federal Ministry of Health has therefore sent a strong message, urging Nigerians to disregard rumours of a new Ebola outbreak and it says efforts have been heightened at the various ports of entry into the country to ensure proper screening of those coming in.
The ministry said that in line with the World Health Organisation 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.
Those two countries, particularly DR Congo, have been going through a major outbreak that has led to the death of many of their citizens, likened to the 2014 episode in West Africa which led to the death of over 10,000 people.
The Ministry described as false, messages that have been circulating in the social media, suggesting that a positive case of Ebola Virus Disease had surfaced in the country. It stressed that heightened surveillance has been on-going at the various points of entry by officials of the Port Health Services division of the ministry to prevent importation of Ebola into Nigeria.
This should also be a clarion call on all Nigerians that despite the clean bill of health regarding Ebola, basic hygiene, including but not limited to proper washing of hands and use of sanitisers should be part of the regular way of life for everyone.
Image Credit: CBS News
