Nigeria On The Alert Over Ebola Resurgence In Guinea

The federal ministry of health has written its heads of departments and programmes over a recent resurgence of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Guinea Conakry, capital city of Guinea.  

In a memo dated April 19, the ministry said it was informed of the outbreak via a letter from the ministry of foreign affairs.

It said the Liberian government has also called the attention of Nigerian authorities to the outbreak, asking the country to take necessary measures to curb the spread of the disease.

“The ministry is in receipt of a letter from the ministry of foreign affairs informing Nigeria of the recent outbreak and resurgence of the deadly Ebola virus in Guinea Conakry which has devastated the country in the past,” the memo read.

“In view of the above, the Liberian government has requested the Nigerian authorities to take necessary measures to avoid further spread of the deadly virus.

“While the relevant technical departments or agencies are working on the national response and instituting appropriate measures you are to also be mindful of this outbreak and its implication to the West Africa sub-region and be guided accordingly. Please treat as important.”

The development comes two months after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) placed Nigeria at moderate risk of experiencing an Ebola outbreak.

But according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been no new case of Ebola for over a week in Guinea.

The NCDC had said it placed Nigeria at moderate risk owing to its proximity to Guinea after an EVD outbreak was declared in the West African country on February 14.

In 2014, there was an outbreak of Ebola across West Africa, including in Nigeria.