Ebola, real threat to Nigeria –FG

The Federal Government yesterday admitted that Nigeria is in danger of the deadly Ebola virus from immigrants fleeing from the Democratic Republic of Congo, pouring into Chad and Cameroun, who are Nigeria’s neighbours. Warning that there was no vaccine against Ebola and Lassa fever, the government urged Nigerians to take precautions which include seeing the doctor immediately one is feverish as the three-day after medication theory cannot apply because Ebola kills very fast. It advised constant washing of hands after each activity, avoid eating fruits without washing them as well as stop eating fruits that have been eaten by bats as there may have been infected by the Ebola virus. The deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has spread across West Africa with 137 cases and 100 deaths recorded since January this year. Minister of Heath, Prof. Onyeabuchi Chukwu, told State House correspondents after the one hour Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, that government has also decided to change the radio and television jingles and newspaper advertisements to include the current realities as far as Ebola fever is concerned. The government will adopt the method used to fight the polio virus which include working with religious bodies, communities, traditional rulers and the media to educate Nigerians on the virus. “Yes, Ebola is a real threat. It is true that as at today we have not been able to report a single case of Ebola. But mind you Ebola is not the only threat, it is an added threat because West Africa never had a single case of Ebola until this year, it was more in Central Africa. But now, we have added it 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 homoragic fever. Then lassa fever which you know has been ongoing, there are even parts of Nigeria which is endemic like the northern part of Edo State, they record a case every week and is very deadly. We recently diagnosed a case of denge fever, there all caused homoragic fever. There is one called mabuck fever, it has not yet been dictated in Nigeria. “So all the things we said still apply, personal hygiene make sure that after every ceremony you wash your hands. The first thing I do after returning from work is to wash my hands before torching my children or anybody, is very important. The second thing is that before you eat wash your hands again, the fruits must be washed, those things we eat from must be washed. When people have fever, we will soon review our adverts for things like anti-malaria because they still say if you have fever take this for three days if you don’t improve go and see your doctor but we are changing all that because now if you wait three days for Ebola you are dead. “So all of them will continue and will produce a specific one for Ebola”, he said.