Ebola is real ‘but panic not the solution’

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged Nigerians to accept the reality that Ebola is in the country, but should not panic as the federal government is determined to contain the outbreak.

Speaking with NAN on Monday, NOA’s assistant director, medical orientation programme, Dr Ayoola Olufemi, described Ebola as a “global threat and national emergency” and assured the public that it would be tackled “headlong” at all levels of government.

“It is a reality that the virus is here with us and what we need to do is to take precautionary measures against the virus,” he said.

“Panic is not the solution to Ebola; Nigerians are not supposed to panic. All we have to do is that we have to work towards the containment of spread through public enlightenment.

“People should know that there is a virus that is new to us; the virus is deadly and very infectious and can kill within days.

“The only way to protect ourselves from getting the virus is to increase our personal hygiene, environmental hygiene and report any cases of illness immediately.”

He implored Nigerians to report anybody exhibiting Ebola-like symptoms – fever, headache, sour throat, body pain, weakness, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhoea fever, headache, sour throat, body pain, weakness, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhea or people who have visited Liberia, Sierra Leone or Republic of Guinea to the authorities.

On NOA’s efforts, he said: “The NOA director-general, Mr. Mike Omeri, has directed state directors to participate in national effort to contain the virus by disseminating helpful information about curtailing the spread.

“NOA is also in the presidential steering committee that is working on effective advocacy and dissemination of information.

“We have started working and you know that this is an emergency and the response is going on gradually. Day by day, people will become aware of what they should do to protect themselves against this ravaging virus.”