Lagos: Amid reports of a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), some health experts have called for reactivation and strengthening of the public health surveillance system. The experts made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Nigeria’s only Ebola outbreak occurred in 2014, when the virus was imported from Liberia by a traveler, resulting in 20 cases and eight deaths before successful containment. The DRC Ministry of Health confirmed 63 suspected Ebola cases and 16 deaths as of September 8 in Kasai Province, including four health workers, identifying the Ebola Zaire strain as the outbreak’s cause. This marked the 16th Ebola outbreak in the DRC since the virus was discovered there in 1976.
The outbreak has spread across Bulape and Mweka health zones and recorded a mortality rate of 57 percent, raising concerns over the disease’s high fatality and potential for further spread. A Virologist, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, emphasized that Nigeria should be on high alert; enhancing surveillance at the borders, healthcare facilities, and building trust with communities. Tomori, also the Chairman of Biovaccines Nig Ltd., stated that public health facilities should be reactivated to position them for detection and treatment of any identified case.
Tomori highlighted the issue of porous national borders and urged personnel at these entry points to scale up their responsibilities to identify suspected travelers. He noted that after containment of an outbreak, health facilities and measures might be abandoned, stressing the need to reactivate facilities like laboratory centers and other detective tools to track down suspected cases for prompt treatment. Tomori also pointed out the necessity for border workers to be on high alert, especially with travelers coming in from Addis Ababa and Lome, as these are major connection points from DRC, where the Ebola outbreak has been confirmed.
Contributing to the discussion, an Epidemiologist, Dr. Igwe Chukwubike, underscored the importance of continuous public health education to inform the populace on preventing contraction of the disease. Chukwubike emphasized the need for frequent hand-washing with soap and water, citing regular hygiene as a key preventive measure to reduce transmission risk from contact with infected surfaces or individuals. He also stressed avoiding physical contact with anyone showing symptoms such as fever, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding, common signs of Ebola infection.
Dr. Chukwubike advised that people should always raise alerts and report to relevant agencies and health facilities upon noticing any suspected person or unusual illnesses. He highlighted the importance of increased public sensitization to ensure people know where and when to report any suspected case and urged citizens to maintain optimal hygiene practices during this time.
