Health minister orders screening of fever patients for Ebola

Isaac Adewole, minister of health, has directed Nigerian health workers to screen haemorrhagic fever patients for Ebola.

This followed the outbreak of the disease in Congo.

In 2014, Nigeria recorded cases of the disease after a Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, imported it to the country.

Ebola had ravaged Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, but it was eventually contained in the West African countries.

But last Friday, a case of the disease was confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a statement, Boade Akinola, spokesperson of the ministry of health, said the minister urged the public to observe high levels of personal hygiene and to report all cases of fever to the nearest health facility.

“The health minister directs all Nigerian health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion by screening all haemorrhagic fever patients for Ebola,” she said.

“Similarly, the minister encourages members of the public to observe a high level of personal hygiene which includes regular hand washing and to also report all cases of fever to the nearest health facility.

“The federal government in response to the announcement by the WHO on confirmed cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 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 conduct relevant tests.

“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, nose and ears.”