Zika Virus: FG Gives Nigerian Olympic Contingent Clean Sheet to Brazil

Bans pregnant women from travelling to South America Adewole: We’ve resolved budget discrepancies

Paul Obi

The federal government yesterday gave the Nigerian Olympic Contingent a clean sheet to attend the 2016 Olympic Games taking place in Brazil, a country currently facing

However, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, told journalists at a press conference in Abuja that there are substantial grounds to stop the Nigerian Olympic team.

According to the minister, “Should we discourage Nigerian contingent from going there? The answer is no as there is no sufficient grounds to discourage them.

“But I will discourage pregnant women from going to that region. Otherwise, all you have to do is to protect yourself. Zika virus is now in United Kingdom. The real challenge is to be on alert.

“As we were fighting to interrupt the transmission of Lassa fever in our country, another health emergency of international health concern broke out in the Americas and has been spreading fast.

“In the late 2014, Brazil detected a cluster of febrile rash illness related to Zika virus in its North-eastern region (Bahia) that was subsequently associated with the Zika virus in April 2015. The outbreak spreads widely to other parts of Brazil and other countries and by February 2016, Zika viral transmission has been documented in 44 countries and territories).

“This includes two African countries of Cape Verde and Gabon that reported transmission between 2015 and 2016.

“As of today, Brazil and Columbia have been the most affected countries with an estimated cases ranging between 600,000 and 1,700,000.”

He said: “Although two African countries have reported Zika infection in the recent outbreak and in the past, many others, causal relationship between Zika virus infection, birth defects and neurological syndromes have not been established in this continent.

“As of now, there is no known specific treatment for Zika virus disease. Treatment is therefore generally supportive and it includes rest, fluids, and use of pain killers and antipyretics.

“In a pregnant woman with laboratory evidence of Zika virus in serum or amniotic fluid, serial ultrasounds should be considered to monitor foetal anatomy and growth every three to four weeks. Referral to a maternal-foetal medicine or infectious disease specialist with expertise in pregnancy management is recommended.

“Despite the fact that some Nigerians are immune to the Zika virus infection as demonstrated by previous studies, it is important and advisable that “There is no vaccine for Zika virus, and no cure other than to rest, take plenty of fluids and perhaps over-the-counter medication to reduce fevers, aches and pains as previously mentioned. This therefore means that prevention is most effective means of preventing transmission.

“I advise all Nigerians, particularly pregnant women to avoid travelling to countries infected by this virus in these periods. If however, you are to visit any country where Zika virus is now being actively transmitted, you are advised to protect yourselves from mosquito bites.”

“All state governments are hereby advised to immediately embark on health education campaigns to empower communities to take action and protect themselves from Zika virus as well as other mosquito-borne diseases.

“I have instructed the Port Health Services of my ministry to immediately adjust and include points of entry screening to capture anti-Zika activities.

“The public is also called to maintain good individual and community hygiene to discourage creation of mosquito breeding grounds near homes and nearby surrounding. All states are called upon to commence anti-mosquito campaign including engaging the services of sanitary inspectors with their appropriate deployment.

All health facilities in the country are hereby directed to emphasize routine infection prevention and control measures and ensure all pregnant women receive special attention and are treated free, in case of presentation with symptoms similar to any viral haemorrhagic fever.

Giving an update on Lassa fever, Adewole said: “As at today, February 10, Nigeria has recorded 176 cases with 108 deaths given a case fatality rate of 61.4 percent. Out of this, 78 are confirmed cases and 49 deaths given a specific case fatality rate of 62.8 percent.