Stay away from Uganda as fresh Ebola virus breaks out, Nigerians warned

Stay away from Uganda as fresh Ebola virus breaks out, Nigerians warned

A resurgence of the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has been confirmed in Uganda among other places.

Nigerians have thus been advised to avoid all but essential trips to such areas.

The advisory followed the January 30 confirmation of the outbreak of the Sudan strain of Ebola virus in Wakiso, Mukono and Mbale City by the Ugandan Ministry of Health.

Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Jide Idris, said the agency was reinforcing surveillance at entry points, updating emergency response plans and expanding diagnostic capacity in key laboratories.

“Ugandan health authorities are currently tracking 44 contacts to curb further spread,” Idris said.

He however said that Nigeria had no recorded cases.

The director-general assured Nigerians that proactive steps were being taken to mitigate any risk of an outbreak.

“While there is no immediate cause for panic, we must remain vigilant. The Ebola Sudan strain has no approved vaccine, making early detection and containment critical,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to adhere to the following preventive measures: “Practice good hand hygiene – wash hands regularly with soap and water or use hand sanitisers.

“Avoid contact with persons showing symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding.

“Refrain from consuming bush meat, especially bats and primates.

“Seek immediate medical attention if experiencing symptoms after travelling to an affected country.”

He also advised health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, use personal protective equipment (PPE), and report suspected cases.