No case of Ebola virus in Nigeria- NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assured Nigerians that no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease has been recorded in the country In a statement released on Sunday, May 17, the NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, said it was closely monitoring developments following the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a recently confirmed imported case in Uganda. According to the NCDC, authorities in DR Congo and Uganda have already activated emergency response measures, including enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing, infection prevention and public risk communication. The agency said Nigeria had also intensified its preparedness efforts due to increased regional movement across African borders. “Due to increasing regional movement across countries, NCDC is closely monitoring the situation and working with relevant stakeholders, including the Port Health Service under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to ensure continued vigilance and preparedness within the public health system,” the statement read The WHO had earlier warned that the Bundibugyo strain differs from the more common Ebola-Zaire variant because there are currently no approved vaccines or therapeutics specifically designed for it. The NCDC urged Nigerians to remain calm, avoid misinformation and maintain regular hygiene practices, particularly frequent handwashing. It also advised residents to avoid contact with bodily fluids of sick persons and dead animals or bushmeat from unknown sources. Healthcare workers were advised to maintain a high index of suspicion for patients showing symptoms consistent with Ebola, especially those with relevant travel history, while strictly adhering to infection prevention and control measures. The agency encouraged Nigerians to promptly report unusual illnesses to the nearest health facility and rely only on updates from official public health authorities.