FG debunks rumours of fresh case of Ebola in Nigeria

The Federal Government on Wednesday denied rumours of any fresh case of Ebola in the country, saying efforts have heightened at the various ports to ensure that sick people coming into the country are properly screened.

There have been apprehension since the resurgence of the virus in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, with Ugandan Ministry of Health announcing on June 11, 2019 the first cross-border cases in the current outbreak.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Director, Media and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health, Boade Akinola, qouted the Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Abdullaziz Abdullahi, as saying 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.

The statement also described as false, an alleged message circulating in the social media purporting a positive case of Ebola Virus Disease in the country.

Abdulahi 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.

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“FG (has) assured (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 sick passenger has been properly screened and I can say categorically that none of the patients screened has tested positive for Ebola or any 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 importation of 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 remain 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”, Abdulahi said.

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