Ebola: Uganda activates screening at airport as Nigeria raises public health vigilance
Uganda has intensified Ebola screening at the Entebbe International Airport following reports that a Nigerian woman who tested positive for the disease transited through the airport earlier this month.
The ministry of health said this in a post on X on Wednesday, adding that its Permanent Secretary, Diana Atwine, had visited the airport to reinforce public health screening procedures.
Ms Atwine also conducted a spot inspection at the airport’s border entry point to assess screening arrangements and identify potential gaps.
The ministry said it had received thermal scanners donated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to strengthen screening at key points of entry as part of efforts to prevent the spread of Ebola.
It said Uganda had no confirmed active Ebola cases following reports that the Nigerian woman transited through Entebbe International Airport.
According to the ministry, the woman travelled to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for business before passing through Uganda in early October.
She reportedly showed no symptoms while in Uganda but developed them after arriving in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s health authorities have confirmed an imported Ebola case involving a woman who arrived in Abuja after travelling from Uganda.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed the diagnosis through laboratory testing.
The case has prompted heightened public health vigilance, including efforts to trace contacts and strengthen surveillance to prevent further transmission.
Ebola is a severe viral disease that can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms, or with contaminated materials.
Early detection, prompt isolation and contact tracing are critical to containing outbreaks.
Nigeria previously recorded an Ebola outbreak in 2014 after an infected traveller arrived in Lagos from Liberia.
The country contained the outbreak through coordinated surveillance, contact tracing and infection prevention measures.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
NationWide
First Lady Remi Tinubu, Seyi Tinubu at war over APC youth leadership appointment
The source alleged that the initiative was established partly to counter the CityBoy Movement.
Politics
Nigerian envoy tells UN, demands African-led solutions
Nigeria’s permanent representative to the African Union, Nasir Aminu, has warned that sustainable peace in Africa cannot be imposed externally.
World
France announces world’s first human Shamonda virus infection
The Shamonda virus is transmitted to animals by biting midges of the genus Culicoides.
World
Russian scientists develop smart gel for cancer treatmentÂ
The researchers chose 5-fluorouracil as the active ingredient.
World
Researchers lament drop in childhood measles vaccination globally
An estimated 23.7 million infants, or one in five worldwide, missed their first measles vaccine dose in 2023.
World
Bolivia to increase ethanol proportion in petrol
The agreement will help support local farmers and develop ethanol production in the country.
