The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has intensified its Ebola preparedness following a recent dynamic risk assessment, even as it sought to reassure the public that there is no confirmed case of the virus in the country, Channels Television reported. Officials of the agency spoke to journalists during a briefing in Lagos, where they set out the steps being taken to keep Nigeria protected against any possible spread of the disease.
The heightened vigilance comes against the backdrop of developments beyond Nigeria's borders. The centre said its move to step up readiness was prompted by outbreaks of the disease reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Uganda, situations that have raised concern across the region and pushed health authorities in neighbouring and nearby countries to review their own systems of defence.
The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, said the agency had strengthened its surveillance and response mechanisms across the country. He outlined a series of response strategies aimed at ensuring that any suspected case would be detected and managed quickly, while urging state governments to activate their own preparedness measures rather than leaving the task solely to the federal agency.
At the heart of the briefing was a clear message of reassurance. Dr Idris told Nigerians that, as of now, there is currently no confirmed case of the Ebola virus in the country, adding that the agency did not expect to record one. He repeated that point several times, stressing that the preparedness drive was a precaution rather than a response to an existing emergency on Nigerian soil.
He set out specific tasks for the states, asking them to activate and sustain preparedness coordination mechanisms in the same way that the NCDC does at the national level. The states were urged to strengthen their surveillance and alert management systems, to operationalise designated treatment centres and to intensify preparedness activities at points of entry and at transport hubs across the country.
The Director-General also turned his attention to medical personnel who would be on the front line of any response. He urged all clinicians and frontline healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, particularly among people with a recent travel history to affected countries or with epidemiological links to confirmed or suspected cases, so that warning signs are not missed.
Finally, the agency appealed directly to the public to stay calm and carry on with their normal activities. Dr Idris encouraged Nigerians to obtain information only from credible sources, to avoid spreading rumours and misinformation, and to practise good hygiene, including regular hand washing and proper sanitation, which he described as key measures in keeping the country safe.