The Federal Government has stepped up disease surveillance at airports, seaports and land crossings nationwide as part of intensified efforts to prevent the Ebola virus from entering the country amid a growing outbreak in parts of East and Central Africa.
Under the enhanced measures, travellers considered high-risk or those showing symptoms linked to Ebola and other viral haemorrhhagic fevers will undergo additional screening procedures and may be isolated and referred for further medical evaluation where necessary.
The latest intervention follows concerns over the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease in affected African countries and is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s readiness against any potential importation of the virus.
In a statement released on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and signed by the Assistant Director of Press and Public Relations, Ado Bako, authorities stressed that Nigeria remains free of any confirmed Ebola infection while assuring citizens that precautionary measures have nevertheless been activated nationwide.
“The ministry wishes to reassure Nigerians that there is presently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria.
“However, in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening national health security and preventing cross-border disease transmission, heightened preparedness measures have been activated nationwide,” the ministry stated.
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Health officials said border monitoring has become a central pillar of the country’s preparedness strategy, with all entry points directed to strengthen health checks and risk assessments for incoming travellers.
The upgraded protocols include compulsory temperature screening through infrared thermal devices and handheld thermometers, scrutiny of travel histories, completion of health declaration forms and expanded passenger risk profiling.
According to the ministry, authorities have introduced “enhanced traveller risk assessment and screening procedures at designated points of entry” and established “secondary screening, isolation, and referral mechanisms for travellers presenting symptoms consistent with viral haemorrhagic fevers.”
The measures echo the heightened border controls previously implemented during major public health emergencies, including Nigeria’s response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beyond points of entry, the government said disease monitoring systems have been reinforced nationwide through expanded surveillance programmes and community-level reporting networks designed to quickly identify any suspected case.
The statement noted that “Enhanced Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response activities nationwide” and “strengthened event-based and community-based surveillance systems” are currently ongoing to ensure early detection of any suspected case.
As part of its emergency preparedness framework, the ministry disclosed that Public Health Emergency Operations Centres have been activated, while Rapid Response Teams across federal and state levels remain on alert for immediate deployment if required.
Healthcare institutions have also been instructed to strengthen infection-control measures, improve patient screening processes and ensure prompt reporting of any suspected viral haemorrhagic fever cases.
“Healthcare facilities nationwide have also been advised to maintain a high index of suspicion for viral haemorrhagic fevers, strengthen triage systems, promptly isolate suspected cases, and adhere strictly to established reporting protocols,” the ministry said.
While urging calm among citizens, the government emphasised that the actions taken are preventive rather than reactive and are intended to keep the country prepared against any possible outbreak.
The ministry also encouraged Nigerians to maintain strict personal hygiene practices, particularly regular handwashing, avoid contact with bodily fluids of sick individuals, stay away from dead animals and bushmeat from unverified sources, and promptly notify health authorities about unusual illnesses or unexplained deaths.
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