The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has cleared the country of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), saying there are no confirmed cases of the disease in the country.
In a public health advisory issued on Sunday, the Director-General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, said, “Nigeria currently has no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease”. The advisory followed the outbreak of the disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a recently confirmed case in Uganda.
But it said the agency and other stakeholders are “closely monitoring the situation and working with relevant stakeholders, including the Port Health Service (Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare), to ensure continued vigilance and preparedness within the public health system,” the advisory read in part.
The NCDC asked Nigerians to be calm, avoid spreading misinformation about the disease, and maintain preventive measures like avoiding contact with bodily fluids of sick persons and regular hand hygiene, among others.
“Healthcare workers are advised to maintain a high index of suspicion for EVD in patients presenting with compatible symptoms and relevant travel or exposure history,” it said.
