The Anambra State Government has deployed nurses to Chinua Achebe International and Cargo Airport and activated emergency hotlines to strengthen surveillance and response to suspected Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) circumstances.
The Commissioner for Health, Afam Obidike, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Awka.
He assured residents that the federal government was strengthening measures to forestall the virus from getting into the state.
Mr Obidike urged residents to report suspected circumstances by way of the emergency hotlines.
He mentioned the ministry was collaborating with the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Association of Public Health Practitioners of Nigeria and different companions.
According to him, the partnership will improve surveillance, promote early detection and coordinate responses to suspected circumstances.
“The state has intensified surveillance at entry factors, together with the airport and border communities.
“We have intensified public consciousness campaigns and refresher coaching for healthcare employees.
The commissioner cautioned residents towards unproven preventive practices, together with ingesting or bathing with salt water, stressing that such measures couldn’t forestall Ebola an infection.
He defined that Ebola might unfold by way of direct contact with the blood and different bodily fluids of an contaminated individual experiencing signs, contaminated supplies and sure contaminated animals.
Mr Obidike suggested residents experiencing signs akin to fever, headache, weak point, muscle ache and joint ache, notably after potential publicity, to search immediate medical consideration.
He famous that the signs might resemble these of malaria and different diseases, making early medical evaluation important.
The commissioner urged residents to stay vigilant, keep away from spreading unverified data and promptly report suspected circumstances by way of the designated emergency hotlines.
Nigeria’s imported Ebola case
Nigeria confirmed an imported case of Ebola on Tuesday, involving a girl who lately arrived within the nation on a world flight from Uganda.
The affected person is receiving remedy in isolation at a non-public hospital within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Jean Kaseya, subsequently disclosed that the affected person is the spouse of a diplomat who travelled to Uganda’s capital, Kampala, for a vacation.
Mr Kaseya mentioned the girl, initially from Uganda however resident in Abuja, developed signs three days after returning to Nigeria on 3 October.
As reported by PREMIUM TIMES, contact tracing commenced after the affirmation, with 44 shut contacts initially recognized, together with healthcare employees, sufferers, caregivers and journey contacts.
The authorities has urged well being services to stay alert, promptly establish and isolate suspected circumstances, observe an infection prevention and management measures, and report suspected infections to public well being authorities.
The affirmation adopted months of heightened surveillance after Ebola outbreaks had been reported within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
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PREMIUM TIMES reported in May that the federal authorities had recognized 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as going through excessive or average dangers of Ebola importation following a threat evaluation prompted by the outbreaks.
In September, PREMIUM TIMES additionally reported that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention had raised the nation’s preparedness stage and strengthened surveillance measures.
The company mentioned travellers arriving from nations with lively Ebola transmission might be required to full well being declaration varieties to assist monitoring and follow-up.
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