FG activates response on Ebola outbreak nationwide

FAAN assures of preparedness

FOLLOWINGTHE outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Federal government has activated surveillance activities cross the country to detect and prevent any outbreak of the disease.

To this end, letters of alert have been sent to all states to enhance surveillance activities and an advisory note for the general public.

Government also announced that Nigeria emergency phase of the Lassa fever outbreak is over.

This followed an epidemiological review by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation,

Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole in Abuja, who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja, noted that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control is currently coordinating a national working group that is assessing and managing the risk of Ebola to Nigeria.

He observed that the ministry is in close communication with partners including the World Health Organisation, who are in Congo to monitor and respond to the situation adding that government has plan B to protect the country.

Adewole noted that the Port Health services unit has been placed on red-alert and will heighten screening measures at ports of entry.

Adewole stated that government had strengthened the nation’s health security infrastructur e to effectively prevent, detect and respond to infectious diseases including Ebola.

Also, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday assured of its preparedness to detect and prevent the entry of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) at airports nationwide, having mobilised relevant agencies to step up surveillance.

FAAN, which manages all the 22 Federal Governmentowned airports across the country, said the agencies, including the Port Health Services, are collaborating effectively to ensure the safety of passengers and airportusers at all time.