The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has announced tighter health surveillance measures at the country’s international airports following renewed Ebola concerns in parts of Central Africa.
In a statement, FAAN said it was collaborating with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Port Health Services and other agencies to strengthen passenger screening and monitoring, especially for travellers arriving from high-risk countries.
FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said passengers are being screened for symptoms linked to the Ebola Virus Disease, while suspected cases would be immediately isolated for further medical checks. He added that emergency response procedures had also been reinforced across airports.
“Passengers are being screened for symptoms associated with Ebola, and any suspected case will be promptly isolated and subjected to secondary health checks in line with established national and international health protocols,” the statement said.
The move follows the World Health Organization’s declaration of the Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern this month. The outbreak, centred in DR Congo’s Ituri Province, has reportedly spread to neighbouring Uganda, raising fears across the region.
FAAN, however, stressed that Nigeria had not recorded any confirmed Ebola case, urging travellers to remain calm, cooperate with airport health officials and promptly report any symptoms during screening procedures.
