In response to the recent outbreak of viral haemorrhagic diseases, including Ebola and Marburg, across parts of Africa, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in line with its statutory mandate and the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), convened a two-day high-level National Cross-Border Surveillance Stakeholder Engagement. The strategic engagement, held in collaboration…
The Nigerian Medical Association in Akwa Ibom State has announced an indefinite strike following allegations that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission assaulted, arrested, and detained medical personnel at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. The decision was reached during an emergency virtual congress held on Tuesday, where members condemned what they described as an invasion of the…
WHO has warned that fresh Hantavirus cases may emerge in the coming weeks following the evacuation of passengers from the outbreak-hit MV Hondius cruise ship. According to WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus, 11 cases — including three deaths — have been reported so far, with most linked to the Andes virus strain. However, WHO says the…
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU), has unveiled a new health programme aimed at improving the country’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to disease outbreaks. The initiative, called the EU Support to Public Health Institutes in Nigeria (EU SPIN), is a four-year €4.2…
A special flight carrying 20 UK nationals evacuated from the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius cruise ship has landed in Manchester after a hantavirus outbreak linked to the vessel. The passengers were flown in from Tenerife, where the ship remains docked following a deadly outbreak that has claimed three lives. They will now undergo medical testing and…
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has confirmed the release of Dr Edwin Emegakor, who was abducted in Anambra State earlier this month. Dr Emegakor, Medical Director of Crown Multi-Specialist Hospital in Nkpor, reportedly regained freedom after spending several days in captivity following his abduction on May 7. Confirming the development, the Chairman of the NMA…
A cruise ship affected by a deadly hantavirus outbreak has arrived in Spain’s Canary Islands, where authorities are preparing a carefully monitored evacuation of nearly 150 passengers and crew after weeks at sea. The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius arrived at the industrial port of Granadilla in Tenerife on Sunday under security escort, following international concern over…
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has issued a public health advisory following reports of a Hantavirus cluster linked to international cruise ship travel involving multiple countries. According to the agency, there is currently no confirmed case of Hantavirus in Nigeria, and the overall risk to the public remains low. However, the…
The World Health Organization has reassured the public that the risk posed by the recent hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius remains “absolutely low,” despite confirmed deaths associated with the virus. WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier stated in Geneva that the virus spreads mainly through very close contact, stressing that the danger to the wider public remains minimal. According…
The World Health Organization Representative in Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu, has met with the Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, Svein Baera, to deepen collaboration aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system and improving national health outcomes. The meeting, held in Abuja, focused on accelerating progress toward Nigeria’s health targets through stronger partnerships in health security, disease surveillance, immunisation, and primary healthcare…
