Nigeria in great danger of Ebola virus disease outbreak - health minister

Even though it had earlier said there was no Ebola virus disease outbreak in Nigeria, Nigerian government through the Federal Ministry of Health has said the spread of Ebola Virus Disease to neighbouring West African countries has put Nigeria in danger.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) held at Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, Professor Onyeabuchi Chukwu, Nigeria's Minister of Health said that immigrants fleeing from crisis-torn countries in Central Africa to Nigeria’s neighbouring countries such as Chad and Cameroon are putting the country in danger.

Chukwu said: “Ebola has been moving eastward towards Nigeria as well and we are already facing danger from Central African Republic, even with what is happening in Congo, people are also migrating to Chad and Chad, Cameroon are also on our borders.”

According to him, Ebola virus disease which was more in Central Africa until now is just an addition to the ones that are even more native to West Africa which is Lassa fever.

“Some of these viruses belong to a group that causes similar diseases like yellow fever which for 18 years now, we have not had a single case, but 18 years ago it devastated Nigeria.

“It is also the cause of what is called haemorrhagic fever. Then Lassa fever which you know has been ongoing, there are even parts of Nigeria where it is endemic like the northern part of Edo State, they record a case every week and it is also very deadly. We recently diagnosed a case of Dengue fever. There is one called Mabuck fever, it has not yet been detected in Nigeria,” said the Health Minister.

The Minister who had earlier issued a nationwide red alert on the disease said government will produce radio and television jingles and newspaper advertisements to create public awareness about Ebola. He said government would adopt the method used to fight the polio virus. They include working with religious bodies, communities, traditional rulers and the media to educate Nigerians on Ebola virus.

“As I speak to you, we have already approved jingles to be produced in various languages produced by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control to be aired on Radio, TV and newspaper adverts.

“Then we are working with all groups, just like we are doing for polio, religious bodies, communities, traditional rulers and the media which is most important in this venture you will help us to play your role by educating Nigerians,” said the Minister.

He advised Nigerians to to take precautions which include seeing the doctor immediately they notice they are feverish. 

"People should not wait as the three day after medication theory does not apply which Ebola kills very fast," he said.

He recommended constant washing of hands after each activity, avoiding eating of fruits without washing, as well as non consumption of fruits that have been eaten by bats are also ways of guarding against being infected by the Ebola virus.

Few days ago, HealthNewsNG.com reported that Ghana has commenced investigations into the nation's first suspected case of Ebola virus disease following the death of a 12-year old girl who reportedly had hemorrhagic-like symptoms.

Follow our coverage of the Ebola virus disease outbreak here.