The Ogun government says it has heightened surveillance, following the federal government’s confirmation of an Ebola case in Abuja. Tomi Coker, health commissioner, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Ms Coker assured residents that no case had been recorded in the state as at Wednesday. The commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant, observe preventive measures and avoid panic or the spread of unverified information.

She noted that Ogun had been on heightened alert since the declaration of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in March.

According to her, 111 persons of interest, comprising passengers from high-risk countries, had been identified, monitored and subsequently discharged from follow-up after completing the required surveillance period.

Ms Coker said the state’s public health emergency operations centre was coordinating preparedness and response activities to ensure the prompt identification, reporting and management of any suspected case.

She added that the government had strengthened the capacity of disease surveillance and notification officers, port health officers, health educators, clinicians and community informants through training on appropriate response procedures. The commissioner said relevant national guidelines, protocols and resource materials had been adapted and deployed to guide the state’s response.

“Public sensitisation and infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities are being intensified. Residents are advised to remain calm and obtain information from official public health authorities.

“Ebola is a serious disease that can cause severe illness and death. Its early symptoms may resemble those of other common illnesses. The symptoms include fever, severe weakness, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Unexplained bleeding or bruising may also occur in some cases,” she said.

Ms Coker advised residents to wash their hands regularly with soap and running water and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser when soap and water are unavailable. She called on residents to cooperate with surveillance and follow-up teams, provide accurate information when contacted by public health officials and comply with the guidance issued.

She said the Ogun government would continue to work with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor developments and implement appropriate measures.

(NAN)