Following a confirmed case of Ebola in Uganda, the Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated measures to strengthen the country’s preparedness.
This is according to a statement issued by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) on Sunday.
TheFact Daily recalls that the Ministry of Health in Uganda confirmed an outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) caused by the Sudan specie, in Wakiso, Mukono and Mbale city in Mbale district On 30th January 2025.
Only one case has so far been reported, and one death (confirmed by post-mortem). Forty-four (44) contacts are being followed up.
The NCDC, therefore, assured that it would continue to monitor the regional and global situations.
The statement read in part: “The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Partners through the National Emerging Viral Hemorrhagic Diseases (EVHD) Technical Working Group has initiated measures,
continues to monitor disease occurrence and has initiated measures to strengthen our preparedness in the country.
“It is pertinent to note that Uganda has experience in responding to Ebola Disease outbreaks, and necessary action has been initiated.
“There are no cases of Ebola virus disease in Nigeria. However, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Partners through the National Emerging Viral Hemorrhagic Diseases (EVHD) Technical Working Group, continues to monitor disease occurrence and has initiated measures to strengthen our preparedness in the country”.
Part of effort made by the agency towards this cause include, “the update of our EVD emergency contingency plan, heightened surveillance especially at the points of entry, and optimizing diagnostic capacity for EVD testing in designated laboratories in cities with international airports of entry and the National Reference Laboratory”.
It added that all Lassa Fever testing laboratories could be activated to scale up testing if the need arose.
