Zamfara tightens Ebola screening after passenger arrives with 38°C fever
- Zamfara has stepped up Ebola screening at Gusau airport and major motor parks after a traveller from Saudi Arabia showed a 38°C fever.
- Health commissioner Nafisa Maradun said the passenger was referred for further medical assessment, not confirmed as an Ebola case.
- The move follows Nigeria's confirmed Ebola case in the FCT on October 20.
Zamfara State has tightened Ebola screening at Gusau airport, major motor parks and other entry points after a passenger arriving from Saudi Arabia was found with a body temperature of 38 degrees Celsius.
The passenger, who is from Zamfara, was picked up during screening and referred for further medical assessment, the state's Commissioner for Health, Nafisa Maradun, said on Friday while launching passenger screening at the airport.
She said medical teams have been posted to the airport and busy motor parks to check travellers and catch possible infections early.
A fever on its own does not mean a person has Ebola. The government said further medical assessment is needed to establish what caused the high temperature, and the passenger was referred for that reason.
Why it matters
The screening follows Nigeria's confirmation of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on October 20. States are now watching their borders and airports more closely to stop the virus from spreading.
Maradun urged people to stay calm, cooperate with health workers and support the surveillance effort.
The state Ministry of Health has told public and private hospitals, disease surveillance officers and local government health authorities to stay alert for suspected cases, strengthen screening and report anyone with symptoms or a history of exposure promptly.
The government is also working with the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Immigration Service to improve checks at entry points. Transport operators have been asked to report passengers who look unwell.
According to the commissioner, the measures are meant to strengthen early detection, improve coordination among agencies and keep Ebola out of Zamfara.
What happens next
The passenger is expected to undergo further medical assessment to establish the cause of the fever. Screening at the airport and motor parks is expected to continue, and health facilities across the state have been placed on alert.
