A working group has been set up to assess the risk Ebola virus disease poses to Nigeria, in the wake of the confirmed outbreak of the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo this month.
The Ebola Preparedness Working Group is to coordinate “immediate risk assessment of the situation in the DRC,” the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said.
The working group will also coordinate stronger “prevention and preparedness for any potential introduction of the virus into Nigeria,” said chief executive officer of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu.
“The risk of introduction of the Ebola virus into Nigeria is considered to be highest through its air and land borders,” according to the centre.
In the 2014 outbreak of Ebola in West Africa, the virus was introduced into Nigeria after a Liberian American Patrick Sawyer-taken ill in Liberia-flew into the international airport at Lagos.
Port Health authorities will intensify “existing screen procedures” at all ports of entry-with first responder teams put on alert.