The Nigeria Center for disease control and Prevention has issued a public health advisory following the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Uganda.
In a statement,the NCDC said there are no cases of Ebola in Nigeria and it is collaborating with partners as well as closely monitoring the situation in addition to Strengthening preparedness measures.
The agency advises members of the public to stay informed ,embrace preventive measures and report symptoms early enough.
He said the public health advisory becomes necessary because EVD has a 25-90% fatality rate and spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated objects, and wild animals like bats, chimpanzees, and monkeys.
Besides, the DG stressed that while vaccines exist for some strains of the Ebola virus, the approved vaccine for the Zaire strain is not currently available in Nigeria and does not protect against the Sudan strain responsible for the outbreak in Uganda.
Given this, he urged Nigerians to practice good hygiene, avoid bushmeat, and report symptoms immediately to prevent potential outbreaks.
He also advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, enforce strict isolation for suspected cases, adhere to infection control protocols, and report immediately to health authorities.
The DG, however, assured that NCDC will continue to enhance surveillance, expand diagnostic capacity, and coordinate with global health organizations.
