Ebola: Avoid non-essential travel to Uganda, NCDC warns Nigerians

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has warned Nigerians against non-essential travel to Uganda amid the Ebola outbreak.

Uganda had, on September 20, declared an outbreak of Ebola after a 24-year-old male exhibited symptoms of the disease, tested positive, and later died.

As of October 28, the Uganda ministry of health has reported 128 confirmed cases and 34 deaths.

The NCDC, in a statement on Monday, said it had put up several measures to prevent and mitigate the impact of a potential outbreak in Nigeria — including the development of an incident action plan and heightening of point of entry (POE) surveillance.

The agency, however, warned against “all but essential travel to Uganda for now until public health authorities have determined the outbreak to be contained”.

“When travel to Uganda is unavoidable, travellers are advised to avoid contact with obviously sick persons or suspected cases of Ebola,” the statement reads.

“Persons already in Nigeria but with recent travel history to or transit through Uganda within the past 21 days who experience symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhoea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising should promptly call 6232 or state ministry of health hotlines for assessment and testing.

“Such persons should not visit health facilities by themselves to avoid further spread through the shared transport system (public or private). They would be visited at home by dedicated responders for assessment and transported through the designated transport arrangement to the designated treatment centre when required.

“Intending travellers to Nigeria with the above-stated symptoms before departure should not travel to Nigeria but call to report promptly to Port Health Authorities and/or designated health authorities in the country of departure for testing and care.

“Inbound travellers to Nigeria with a recent travel history to or through Uganda without symptoms on departure but who become unwell while on transit are required to avoid contact with people and to report to the Port Health Services on arrival at the point of entry to Nigeria.

“Travellers with a travel history to Uganda who show no symptoms on arrival should provide accurate information on the NITP platform to ensure follow-up from health workers.

“If any of the earlier-mentioned symptoms develop anytime within 21 days of arrival in Nigeria, please: Self-isolate immediately by staying indoors.”