Lagos, Kebbi tighten Ebola screening at airports and borders

Lagos and Kebbi states dey tighten health checks at dia entry points after dem confirm one imported case of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola for Abuja.

Lagos say e no get any suspected Ebola cases of im own. For one statement on Sunday, di state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, say di government don meet airport authorities, Port Health Services and other public health stakeholders to review preparedness at Murtala Muhammed International Airport for Lagos.

Di discussions cover passenger screening, sharing of information, infection prevention and control, and how agencies go coordinate emergency response.

Wetin travellers suppose expect

For Kebbi, di Permanent Secretary of di Ministry of Health, Dr Zaki Abubakar Zaki, say dem don step up screening at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport for Birnin Kebbi. Dem dey check passengers wey dey arrive and depart at designated gates so dem fit spot suspected cases early.

Similar checks dey now for three land border crossings for Bagudo, Kamba and Arewa local government areas. Zaki say di ministry don also supply protective equipment to general hospitals across di state.

Both states urge travellers to cooperate with health officials and give accurate travel and health information when dem ask.

Wetin ordinary Nigerians suppose know

Ebola na severe and sometimes fatal illness. According to Lagos health ministry, e dey spread mainly through direct contact with blood or other body fluids of person wey don already get symptoms, with contaminated materials, or with bodies of people wey die from am. E fit also spread through contact with infected animals.

Symptoms include fever, serious weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain. Some patients dey bleed or get bruise without clear cause. Signs fit appear between two and 21 days after exposure, and early symptoms fit look like malaria.

Lagos advise anybody wey get fever to do malaria rapid diagnostic test before using antimalarial medicine, and to see health worker if di test negative. E also urge people to wash dia hands regular, avoid contact with body fluids of sick people, and stay away from sick or dead wild animals.

Anybody wey suspect exposure suppose call public health authorities before going to hospital. Lagos residents fit use emergency numbers 112 and 767, or call 0802 316 9485 to reach di Directorate of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health.

Lagos ask residents to rely on verified information instead of rumours, and advise travellers to follow official guidance from di Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, di Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and di Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.

Wetin go happen next

Lagos say e go keep monitoring di situation and coordinating with stakeholders, and go issue verified updates as needed. Kebbi say e dey committed to protecting residents through disease surveillance, border screening and coordination with health authorities.