FG speaks on reports of Ebola case in Nigeria

The federal government has debunked the report of the discovery of a case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria.

The Ministry of Health in a press statement signed by its director of media, Boade Akinola, described as false the message circulating on social media claiming a reported case of Ebola in the country.

According to the statement, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Abdullaziz Abdullahi, urged Nigerians to disregard the rumour.

Mr Abdullahi also warned against the “circulation of any unverified information which could cause harm to innocent people and unnecessary panic among the citizens.

A message had been circulating on the social media claiming a confirmed case of Ebola in the country.

According to the message, a passenger with serious symptoms of Ebola arrived Lagos Wednesday morning and all Medical Centers had been alerted.

The message read:

*ATTENTION PLEASE*

“We have just been informed by Port-health of a passenger with serious symptoms of EBOLA that arrived Lagos this morning and all Medical Centers have been alerted, and we are advised to take caution, work with hand gloves, wash our hands regularly and also sanitise our hands. Pls it reached us as a serious matter. Thanks.”

Mr Abdullahi, however, said the report is untrue and baseless.

He assured Nigerians that the government swung into action in protecting the nation’s borders since the reports of EVD outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Since the report of out of EVD in DRC, heightened surveillance has been on-going at the various points of entry by officials of the Port Health Services division of the ministry to prevent importation into Nigeria.”

“To this effect, every sick passenger has been properly screened and I can say categorically that none of the patients screened has tested positive for Ebola or any deadly disease,” he said.

He assured that Nigeria government remained fully committed while working closely with the WHO, states ministries of health, partners and all other stakeholders to protect the health of Nigerians.

– Premium Times