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Tag: Ebola

  • Kenya issues alert on Ebola outbreak

    Kenya issues alert on Ebola outbreak

    Kenya’s health ministry on Tuesday released an alert on Ebola outbreak following the disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    The Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health Jackson Kioko said the government has reactivated the rapid response teams for enhanced surveillance and follow up of travelers with elevated body temperatures and asymptomatic cases with history of travel from DRC.

    “We wish to assure Kenyans that there is no suspected case of Ebola virus in the country and they should remain vigilant.

    “They should look out for any such illnesses and report to the nearest health facility without delay for immediate verification and investigation,” Kioko said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

    He noted that travelers from the affected areas will be required to provide minimum package of information to guide investigations.

    Kioko noted that the government has an adequate stock of Personal Protective Equipment which is stored in strategic regional hospitals for use if needed.

    These include at least 5,000 special full body suits used in situations of highly infectious material.

    He said that the ministry has reactivated the multiagency outbreak coordination committee comprising of public health experts in government and development partners to assess the situation.

    He said holding rooms at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport have been reactivated to isolate Ebola virus disease suspected cases identified to be high risk while awaiting possible transfer to isolation facilities after thorough assessment.

    “The government will remain committed to ensure appropriate and effective measures are instituted in order to protect Kenyans and the general public from imported Ebola Virus,” he added.

    He however said that the outbreak has occurred in a remote zone in DRC and that with timely effective responses in place, the disease is unlikely to spread widely in the region.

     

  • FG urges calm on Ebola

    FG urges calm on Ebola

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Monday urged Nigerians not to panic over the recent declaration of Ebola outbreak in Congo Democratic Republic, saying the Federal Government will ensure that the disease is not imported to the country.

    The minister made the call while inspecting thermal screening machines located at the Port Health Stand of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Adewole was on assessment tour of screening machines at the airport.

    He said: “We want to assure Nigerians that we have never stopped screening people. It has been going on at the International wing of all the airports in the country, although passengers many not have noticed it.

    “There is no reason to panic, everything is under control. If there is a need to screen local passengers we would do that but for now we are concentrating on passengers on international travels.”

     

  • FAAN assures on measures to contain Ebola at airports

    FAAN assures on measures to contain Ebola at airports

    Following the declaration of Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has reassured passengers and airport users of safety at Nigerian airports.

    FAAN gave the assurance in a statement signed by its Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, in Lagos on Monday.

    Yakubu said adequate measures had been put in place to checkmate the recurrence of such outbreak in Nigeria.

    She emphasised that all measures adopted in 2014 to curtail the Ebola virus were very much in place and had been fortified.

    According to her, the Ebola screening points and detecting machines have been fully reinstated at the airports.

    Yakubu said FAAN was also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health, through the Port Health Service, to reactivate the Ebola Awareness and Sensitisation Campaign.

    NAN

     

  • Ebola: Nigeria on red alert over Congo outbreak

    Ebola: Nigeria on red alert over Congo outbreak

    The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole has called for heightened vigilance and intensified awareness efforts over the latest outbreak of Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The Minister noted that health care providers and the general public must report any sign of illness to public health officials immediately.

    This is coming as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has assured of adequate surveillance at the nation’s airports. Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN’s Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that there was no direct flight from Congo to Nigeria and that all the preventive measures being put in place at the airports were still in place.

    The federal government in response to the announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which confirmed cases of Ebola in the DRC has directed port health officials to step up inspection activities and to report any sick person or suspects to ensure that epidemiologists in the states where they are present are immediately alerted and relevant tests conducted.

    The symptoms to look out for include; fever, fatigue, weakness dizziness and muscle aches. Patients with more severe cases show bleeding under the skin, internal organs or even from bodily orifices like mouth, eyes, and the ears.

    Nigerians are urged not to panic as the Centre for Disease Control is on ground and equipped to secure the health of citizens. The agency has for a while now, been strengthening states capacities to detect, manage and respond to hemorrhagic fevers including Lassa fever.

    The minister called on states to begin social mobilisation and media awareness efforts via TV, radio, print and social media and charged state health ministries to strengthen their supervision services and escalate any incident appropriately.

    Yakubu FAAN’s spokesperson, said that port health officials were at alert at all airports, adding that the authority had also informed them of the need to increase surveillance.

    “We don’t have direct flights from Congo, we only have from Rwanda but I want to assure members of the public that we still have all preventive measures in place at our airports.

    “There are sanitisers at our arrivals with the scanning apparatus called thermal scanners being installed by the Port Health Services.

    “The scanners have camera monitors that display pictures aside the capturing of temperature.

    “Passengers still fill that form to ensure that people arriving the country through our airports are not potential carriers of deadly diseases.

    “The port health officials are always at alert and we will also inform them of the need to increase their surveillance.

    “So, there is no cause for alarm,” she said.

    Nigeria experienced the Ebola virus in July, 2014 when a Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer, who had the virus flew from Liberia to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and died five days later.

  • Ebola outbreak in Central Africa: FG calls for vigilance

    Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, has called for heightened vigilance and intensified awareness efforts on symptoms of hemorrhagic fevers following the outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The Minister made the call in a statement issued on his behalf on Saturday in Abuja by Mrs Boade Akinola, Director Media and Public Relations, Ministry of Health.

    The Minister advised health care providers and members of the public, to report any sign of illness to public health officials.

    He said in response to the announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) on confirmed cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), government had directed health officials stationed at the ports, to step up inspection activities.

    He said that the symptoms to look out for included fever, fatigue, weakness, dizziness and muscle aches.

    He said explained that patients with more severe cases would show bleeding under the skin, internal organs or even from mouth and ears.

    The Minister urged Nigerians not to panic as the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) was equipped to secure the health of citizens.

    He said NCDC had been strengthening states capacities to detect, manage and respond to hemorrhagic fevers, including Lassa fever.

    Adewole therefore called on states to begin social mobilization and media awareness efforts, via TV, Radio, Print and Social Media.

    The Health minister directed all Nigerian health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, by screening all fevers for Ebola and other hemorrhagic fevers. NAN)

  • Ebola: WHO deploys investigation team to DRC

    Ebola: WHO deploys investigation team to DRC

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has deployed investigation team to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following reported outbreak of the Ebola virus in the country.

    WHO Executive Director for Emergencies, Peter Salama, in a statement on Friday, said at least one person had died of the virus.

    “An investigation team led by the Ministry of Health and supported by WHO and partners has deployed and is expected to reach the affected area in the coming days.

    “An Ebola outbreak in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed at least one person,” Salama said.

    According to WHO, the DRC health minister requested the UN health agency’s support after one of five blood specimens tested positive for the Ebola virus.

    “On May 9, WHO was informed of a cluster of undiagnosed illness and deaths, including haemorrhagic symptoms in Likati Health Zone, Bas Uele Province, some 1,300 kilometres (about 800 miles) from the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, and bordering the Central African Republic.

    “Since April 22, nine suspected cases, including three deaths, have been reported; six cases are currently hospitalized.

    “The Likati health district is in a remote area, but contact tracing is essential to contain the epidemic in its focus; the DRC can rely on very experienced health workers for this purpose,” WHO’s DRC Representative, Yokouidé Allarangar, said.

    “Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, would arrive in Kinshasa this weekend to attend a coordination meeting of the national committee at the Ministry of Health to deal with this emergency and ensure that WHO provides all necessary assistance to the DRC.

    “The WHO has also drawn up a comprehensive logistics plan to meet urgent requirements.

    “The first teams of epidemiologists, biologists and experts in the areas of social mobilization, risk communication and community engagement.

    “And also personnel specializing in water, hygiene and sanitation, are scheduled to reach the affected area today (Friday) or tomorrow (Saturday) via Kisangani,” WHO said.

    More than 11,000 people died and some 28,000 cases were reported in the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014 to 2015, mainly in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. (NAN)

  • Ebola outbreak declared in Democratic Republic of Congo

    Ebola outbreak declared in Democratic Republic of Congo

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the death of one person in the latest outbreak of Ebola  in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DPR).

    The Congo Ministry of Health notified the WHO of nine suspected cases of Ebola in the Aketi territory, in the northeastern province of Bas-Uele, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said.

    Three people with the hemorrhagic fever have died, but only one death has been confirmed as resulting from the Zaire strain of Ebola.

    Officials suspect that the two other deaths were also caused by the highly infectious virus which spreads through contact with bodily fluids.

    Symptoms, such as fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and hemorrhaging, can begin two to 21 days after exposure.

    The Zaire strain of the virus is one of the most lethal. A 2007 outbreak of this strain in Congo had a fatality rate of 74%, claiming 200 lives.

    There is no approved vaccine to prevent the virus, and there is no approved treatment or cure.

    In 2014, more than 11,300 people were killed in the worst-ever outbreak of the virus in West Africa, most of them in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

    The Federal Government confirmed 198 Ebola cases in Nigeria as at August 2014, following the death of a Liberian,Patrick Sawyer,who flew in for a conference, and that of Dr.Stella Adadevoh who attended to her.

    This is the eighth epidemic of Ebola that Congo has faced.

  • Ebola outbreak declared in Democratic Republic of Congo

    Ebola outbreak declared in Democratic Republic of Congo

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the death of one person in the latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DPR).

    The Congo Ministry of Health notified the WHO of nine suspected cases of Ebola in the Aketi territory, in the northeastern province of Bas-Uele, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said. Three people with the hemorrhagic fever have died, but only one death has been confirmed as resulting from the Zaire strain of Ebola.

    Officials suspect that the two other deaths were also caused by the highly infectious virus, which spreads through contact with bodily fluids.

    Symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and hemorrhaging can begin two to 21 days after exposure.

    The Zaire strain of the virus is one of the most lethal. A 2007 outbreak of this strain in Congo had a fatality rate of 74%, claiming 200 lives.

    There is no approved vaccine to prevent the virus, and there is no approved treatment or cure.

    In 2014, more than 11,300 people were killed in the worst-ever outbreak of the virus in West Africa, most of them in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

    The Federal Government confirmed 198 Ebola cases in Nigeria as at August 2014 following the death of a Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, who flew in for a conference, and that of Dr. Stella Adadevoh who attended to her.

    This is the eighth epidemic of Ebola that Congo has faced.

     

  • Mystery illness in Liberia appears to be meningitis – Minister

    Medical samples from four of the victims of a disease in Liberia that initially baffled scientists have tested positive for a type of meningitis, the minister of health said.

    So far a total of 31 cases of the so-called mystery illness have been reported, including 13 deaths in an outbreak linked to the attendance of a religious leader’s funeral.

    While the symptoms are different from Ebola, the sudden deaths nevertheless stirred anxiety about an outbreak of the tropical illness which was often spread through burial rituals in the West African epidemic that ended less than a year ago.

    Seven specimens from the deceased tested positive for Neisseria meningitis, a particularly contagious type of bacteria, Dr. Bernice Dahn told reporters.

    “Based on these initial results from the CDC Atlanta (U.S. Centre for Disease Control), we believe that we are dealing with a probable outbreak of meningitis in Sinoe, which spread to Montserrado and Grand Bassa counties,” she added, while calling for calm.

    She said the government was investigating options for mass vaccinations against the illness, characterised by swelling of the membranes in the brain and spinal cord.

    Further laboratory analysis is under way.

  • Doctor who blocked Ebola, Lassa fevers in Enugu bows out as NMA boss

    Doctor who blocked Ebola, Lassa fevers in Enugu bows out as NMA boss

    After assuming the leadership of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State, on July 24th, 2014, Dr. George Ugwu, a renowned gynaecologist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku – Ozalla, Enugu State, wasted no time to swing into action.

    Having taken over as chairman from another medical guru, Dr. Obinna Onodugo, Ugwu was aware that the tasks before him were enormous. Speaking at a dinner organised by a committee of friends at the Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu, to mark the end of his two-year tenure, as chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State branch, Ugwu said his administration was tailored on a 40-point agenda.

    Concerned with the health of the people of the state, the NMA boss immediately constituted an action committee on Ebola and followed it up with a world press conference to check the Ebola epidemic and to mark the 2014 physicians’ week with a walk against Ebola in Enugu State.

    Apart from launching war against the Ebola disease, the Enugu State NMA embarked on a number of health outreaches, both in the urban and rural areas within the period under review, during which free medical consultations and treatment of patients were offered.

    According to him, “we demonstrated and emphasised to the general public that all it takes to see a doctor is simply the decision to do so; we also organised a press conference on Lassa fever outbreak and in liaison with other stakeholders, ensured that Enugu State was Lassa free, while our committee on hemorrhagic fever worked closely with the state ministry of health and management of all hospitals to fight Lassa.”

    He also disclosed that the association was actively involved in the fight against quacks and impersonation of the medical profession by disgruntled elements, adding that the leadership during the period launched into the radio and TV waves, jingles on the best way to assess quality health care services and the need to make a qualified medical doctor the point of call on health issues.

    He recalled that during their courtesy visit to the Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, at the Government House, the NMA handed a framework document on the road map towards effective health care delivery in the state for implementation, stressing that the document was based on sound clinical governance.

    Rated as the best NMA Chairman of all time by stakeholders in the health sector, following his several achievements, Dr. Ugwu told his guests that the investiture of Governor Ugwuanyi as the Grand Patron of NMA at their 2015 Annual dinner, the successful foundation laying ceremony of the NMA, Enugu State permanent secretariat, inside the Doctors’ Village, Enugu, by the NMA National President, Dr. Mike Ogirima, and the conferment of the NMA Roll of Honours Award on the Vice chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, a renowned gynaecologist, were among the moments that gave him great joy and fulfillment.

    Having created a new image for NMA in Enugu State, the consultant gynaecologist said that its members were now serving on several committees and boards of inquiry set up by the government.

    He noted that the recent appointment of Prof. Uche Nwagha, former dean of the faculty of medical sciences in UNN into the committee on the Nimbo, Uzo-Uwani herdsmen crisis and that of Dr. Emmanuel Iyidobi, a consultant on trauma at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, to serve on the committee on the Mishap at Oaklands Events Centre, Enugu, were some of the dividends being enjoyed by members of the Nigeria Medical Association in Enugu State, pointing out that the state government was now working closely with the association on all health care issues.

    He recounted: “Although the NMA did not go on strike during my tenure, we were also blessed and educated on ethics and leadership after hosting a large number of medical elders at the Enugu Sports Club in 2015,  that indeed played a great role to influence and inspire me to action. Dr. George Ugwu also praised members of his executive council for their support, especially the secretary and head of the secretariat, Dr. Chinedu Ilokanuno.

    The dinner attracted the cream of the medical profession from within and outside the country; prominent among them were Prof. Bede Ibe, former chairman of the West African College of Physicians, Provost, College of Medicine, UNN; Prof. Ernest Onwasigwe, Provost of the College of Medicine, Anambra State University, Prof. Frank Akpuaka, the Chief Medical Director of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Dr. Chris Amah and the President of Medical Women Association of Nigeria, (MWAN), Enugu State Branch, Dr. Esther Ekwe.

    Meanwhile, Dr. Cajetan Onyedum and Dr. Peter Ekwueme have emerged as the new chairman and secretary of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State Branch. They have since assumed duties. Dr. Onyedum took over from Dr. George Ugwu as chairman after a peaceful election recently.