By The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it has heightened health surveillance and emergency response measures across international airports in the country following the recent Ebola virus outbreak reported in parts of Central Africa.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, May 20, by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, the agency disclosed that it is working closely with the Port Health Services, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and other relevant agencies to enhance surveillance and monitoring at airports nationwide.
According to the statement, passengers arriving from regions considered high-risk are currently undergoing health screening procedures aimed at detecting symptoms associated with Ebola Virus Disease.
“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to reassure the travelling public and stakeholders that robust preventive measures have been put in place across all international airports in response to the recent Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) situation in parts of Central Africa,” the statement partly read.
FAAN noted that any suspected case identified at the airports would be immediately isolated and subjected to further medical examination in line with both national and international public health protocols.
The authority also stated that it has reinforced emergency response procedures, improved staff sensitisation, and strengthened coordination with relevant stakeholders to ensure prompt action if necessary.
FAAN urged passengers to remain calm, cooperate with health officials, and promptly report any symptoms linked to the disease.
AfrikTimes earlier reported that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention assured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in the country despite ongoing outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
The agency added that it is collaborating with relevant stakeholders, including the Port Health Service under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to strengthen vigilance at entry points and within the country’s public health system.
According to reports, the virus has claimed over 100 hundred lives in the affected countries.
In response, United States of America (USA) has reportedly strengthened health surveillance at its borders, targeting passengers arriving from parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Homeland Security disclosed that travelers from affected regions will face enhanced screening and monitoring procedures upon arrival in the country.
Nigeria last witnessed the Ebola Virus outbreak in July 2014, when an infected patient from Liberia arrived in Lagos through the airplane. He was confirmed dead five days later with 19 people confirmed infected while 7 died.
Nigeria was declared “Ebola Free” on October 20, 2014, after the World Health Organization Country Representative, Dr. Rui Gama Vaz, confirmed that Nigeria passed the mandatory six-week period with no new cases recorded.
