Following the fresh outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in Uganda, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in collaboration with relevant ministries, departments, agencies, and partners through the National Emerging Viral Hemorrhagic Diseases (EVHD) Technical Working Group, has continued to monitor disease occurrences and has initiated measures to strengthen preparedness in the country.

According to a circular issued by the Director General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, strategies already implemented include updating the EVD emergency contingency plan, heightened surveillance, especially at points of entry, and optimizing diagnostic capacity for EVD testing in designated laboratories in cities with international airports and at the National Reference Laboratory.

“In addition, all Lassa fever testing laboratories can be activated to scale up testing if the need arises,” the statement added.

Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a severe and often fatal illness caused by the Ebola virus, with a fatality rate of 25–90%.

There are five distinct species of the virus: Bundibugyo, Zaire (the most fatal strain, responsible for most EVD outbreaks, including the 2014–2016 outbreak in West Africa), Reston, Tai Forest, and Sudan (responsible for the outbreak in Uganda).

The infection is transmitted from animals to humans, with human-to-human transmission occurring through direct contact with body fluids (blood, saliva, vomit, urine, feces, sweat, breast milk, and semen) of an infected person, contaminated objects, or infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, porcupines, and forest antelope.

The virus can also be transmitted through contact with wildlife and unsafe burial practices.

The incubation period—i.e., the time from exposure to the development of symptoms—ranges from 2 to 21 days. During an outbreak, those at the highest risk of infection include healthcare workers, family members, and others in close contact with infected or deceased patients.

EVD symptoms include the sudden onset of high fever, headache, body aches, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, and diarrhea.

According to the NCDC, Nigerians are urged to strictly adhere to the following preventive measures:

“Practice good hand hygiene – Wash your hands regularly with soap under running water or use hand sanitizers when soap and water are not readily available.

“Avoid physical contact with anyone who has symptoms of an infection with an unknown diagnosis.

“Avoid the consumption of bush meat, particularly bats and non-human primates, which are known reservoirs of the Ebola virus. And if you have to, ensure that such is properly prepared and cooked before consumption.

“Avoid direct contact with the blood, saliva, vomit, urine, and other bodily fluids of suspected or confirmed EVD cases.

“If you or someone you know (with a travel history to any country with Ebola cases) experiences symptoms of EVD enumerated above, call 6232 or your State Ministry of Health hotline IMMEDIATELY for guidance.”

In its advise to health workers, the centre declared: “Our Healthcare workers are advised to maintain a high index of suspicion for EVD in their encounter with their patients. In the management of a suspected or confirmed case of EVD:

Calling for the strict isolation of the patients, the center cautioned Nigerians to: “Adhere strictly to infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) like face masks, hand gloves, appropriate gowns etc.

“Report suspected cases immediately to the NCDC or State Ministry of Health for appropriate response and management.”

“In the travel guide advise given, the center declared: “Though the WHO advises against any restrictions to travel and/or trade to Uganda, the NCDC advises Nigerian citizens and residents to AVOID ALL BUT ESSENTIAL TRAVEL to countries with confirmed cases of the Ebola Virus Disease.

“Persons already in Nigeria but with recent travel history to or transit through countries with Ebola cases in the last 21 days who experience symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhoea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising should adhere to the following guidelines:

“Promptly call 6232 or State Ministry of Health hotlines for assessment and testing.

“Shelter-in-place to avoid further spread through shared transport systems (public or private) until health authorities reach out.

“Await dedicated responders for assessment and possible transport to a designated treatment center if required.

“On our part, we will continue to strengthen surveillance across the country, including our borders and airports especially for travelers from affected areas; alerting our health workers to heighten their level of suspicion for suspected cases; enhancing our laboratory capacities for quick testing of suspected cases; as well coordination with the WHO and the African Regional Health Authorities to monitor developments and share critical information.

“As you are aware, we continue to manage several other disease outbreaks, like Lassa fever, Meningitis, Diphtheria, Mpox, Measles and Anthrax, ravaging our communities. We will continue to provide periodic updates on these.”

The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, said only 6,000 consultants are left in the country.

MDCAN President, Prof. Muhammad Mohammad, said this on Thursday during the association’s National Executive Council, NEC meeting in Ilorin.

The meeting was themed, “Policy Making for Quality Healthcare Services: Engaging Policy Makers for Quality Healthcare Delivery.”

Mohammad explained that 6,000 consultants remain as of February 2024, lamenting that data showed that about 1,300 left Nigeria in the last five years.

According to him, the number will continue to dwindle as the retirement age for medical consultants is 60 years.

“About 1,700 consultants are above 55 years of age.

“This means that in the next five years, they are going to leave the services for retirement,” he said.

The MDCAN president emphasised that the number of consultants would continue to reduce, as long as the country produces only one or two per annum.

“So you can see that the replacement cannot keep up with the loss from ‘Japa’ syndrome and from retirement,” he said.

Mohammad commended the government for its efforts toward finding solutions to the challenges.

According to him, the association is hopeful that consultants will be able to serve up to 70 years, while other healthcare workers will continue to serve up to 65 years.

He noted that such a move would ensure that medical and dental consultants who remain in the country continue to give their expertise in the health field.

Mohammad also appealed to the government at all tiers to ensure medical lectures are placed on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, addressing disparities in their emoluments.

“We also want to have an environment where we will be able to practice and deliver the best quality healthcare in Nigeria,” he said.

Moussa Faki, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) has expressed dismay over announcement by the U.S. to withdraw from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The U.S. President, Donald Trump, had earlier on Monday announced that U.S. government will withdraw from the global health body, citing WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 outbreak from Wuhan, China and other health crisis.

Faki, the Chief Executive Officer, legal representative of the AU and the Commission’s Chief Accounting Officer, made this known in a statement by the mission on Thursday via its website.

Faki said, “The U.S. as a member of WHO was crucial in shaping global WHO instruments and norms on public health, security and well being over the past seven decades.

“In Africa, the U.S. was an early and strong supporter towards the establishment of Africa CDC, the African Union’s technical agency for public health emergencies.

“The agency works with WHO and the global WHO membership to detect, prepare for, respond to and recover from pandemics.

“Today, now more than ever, the world depends on WHO to carry out its mandate to ensure global public health security as a shared common good.

“It is therefore hoped that the U.S. government will reconsider its decision to withdraw from this key global organisation of which it is a founding member,” Faki said.

The Chairperson of the Commission is often elected by the AU General Assembly for a four-year term, renewable once to oversee the administration and finances; promoting and popularising the AU’s objectives.

Also, to enhance the Commission’s performance, consulting and coordinating with Member States, development partners, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), appointing and managing Commission staff, and act as depository for all AU and OAU treaties and legal instruments.