…As country records 128 cases and 34 deaths
By Michael Babatunde
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has cautioned Nigerians and other residents in the nation against traveling to Uganda.
Ebola death surges again in Uganda, claims nine
The agency has also placed Nigeria on high-risk alert following the Outbreak of the Sudan strain of the Ebola Virus Disease in Uganda on the 20th of September.
As of October 29, the Ugandan Ministry of Health reported 128 confirmed cases of the Ebola virus and 34 deaths.
NCDC gave the caution in a statement issued on Monday 31st of October, signed by the Director, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa.
Adetifa said the warning was to enable public health authorities to determine how the Ebola outbreak would be contained.
While cautioning against travels to Uganda, he said the Public Health Service of the Federal Ministry of Health had scaled up the screening of passengers returning from Uganda at Points of Entry (POEs).
In his words, “Travelers to Nigeria with recent travel history to Uganda or persons already in Nigeria but with recent travel history to or transit through Uganda within the past 21 days are to look out for symptoms.
“Symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhoea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain or unexplained bleeding or bruising should promptly call 6232 or the state ministry of health hotlines for assessment and testing.
“Such persons should not visit health facilities by themselves to avoid further spread through the shared transport system (public or private). They would be visited at home by dedicated responders for assessment and transported through designated transport arrangements to designated treatment centres when required.
“Intending travellers to Nigeria with the above-stated symptoms before departure, should not travel to Nigeria, but call to report promptly to Port Health Authorities and/or designated health authorities in the country of departure for testing and care.”
He added that inbound travellers to Nigeria with recent travel history to or through Uganda without symptoms on departure but unwell while in transit should be denied contact with other people.
