Raphael Ede
The Enugu State Government says it has intensifies surveillance activities at the the Akanu Ibiam International Airport following the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in Uganda.
The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, who revealed this, added that other entry points into the state are being monitored, while the government has designated a dedicated isolation facility to manage any suspected cases of the disease that may arise within its territory.
Ugwu explained in a statement on Tuesday that these and many more measured are being taken as proactive steps taken to prevent the importation and spread of the virus.
Ugwu explained that although Nigeria presently has no confirmed case of Ebola, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, however, classified Enugu State as a high-risk area due to the presence of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, which serves as a major gateway for international travellers.
The statement read in part, “The state cannot afford complacency and must remain vigilant in the face of emerging public health threats.
“Surveillance activities need to be intensified in all Points of Entry, especially at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, where health officials are working closely with relevant stakeholders to monitor travellers and promptly identify any potential health risks.”
The commissioner further stated that the Ministry of Health would scale up risk communication and public awareness campaigns. He noted that the ministry would engage communities, healthcare workers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the media to disseminate accurate information on Ebola prevention, symptoms, and reporting procedures.
He urged residents to maintain strict hygiene practices and promptly report individuals exhibiting suspected symptoms to health authorities.
The World Health Organisation State Coordinator, Dr. Adaeze Ugwu, commended the state government’s timely intervention and readiness posture.
She expressed confidence that the coordinated efforts of the emergency centre, surveillance teams, healthcare facilities, and the public would ensure the state remains prepared to effectively detect, prevent, and respond to any potential threat.
The activation of the emergency centre comes amid renewed global health surveillance following the Sudan ebolavirus strain outbreak in East Africa. Nigeria’s previous experience with the virus occurred in July 2014, when an infected Liberian diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, imported the disease into Lagos, triggering a national public health crisis.
Through rapid contact tracing and institutional lockdowns, the country successfully contained the virus and was declared Ebola-free by the WHO in October 2014, after recording 20 confirmed cases and eight fatalities.
Due to the high fatality rate of the virus, which ranges between 25% and 90%, major international transit hubs like Enugu are intensifying screening procedures to prevent a recurrence of the 2014 outbreak.
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