Nigeria goes on alert as Ebola returns in Liberia

Following the re-emergence of Ebola in Liberia, which had earlier be certified free of the disease, the federal government said it was reactivating its Ebola response mechanism.

The Federal Ministry of Health in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, signed by the director, Press and Public Relations of Mrs A. O. Adesugba, said all state ministries of health and health facilities had been advised to raise their alert level and report any suspected case to the federal ministry of health.

She said, “To address the challenges of the development in neighbouring Liberia, the federal ministry of health is reactivating its response mechanism and increasing the level of its alert.”

Adesugba said with the new cases of Ebola in Liberia, it meant that the country which was certified EVD free by the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 9, 2015, has witnessed a resurgence of the disease.

Just recently, a 17-year-old boy from a village near the Liberian capital died of Ebola. The boy had no history of travelling out of Liberia and no history of coming into contact with any known Ebola case. Liberian health officials are worried that he may have transmitted the virus to many other people who came into contact with him.

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“The resurgence of EVD in Liberia confirms that the Ebola Virus is still circulating in that country and transmission from person-to person is possible.

“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,” she added.

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