By Simeon OSAJIE
Edo State Ministry of Health has urged residents to remain calm and adhere strictly to public health guidelines following reports of a confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Nigeria.
The call was made at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Health Conference Hall in Benin, the state capital where the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole, was represented by the Permanent Secretary (PS), Dr. Eighemherio Paul Ikhumosa.
Dr. Ikhumosa said the state government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), was monitoring developments concerning the reported case.
According to the briefing, the confirmed case involved a woman who reportedly arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda and was admitted to a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where laboratory testing confirmed the infection.
Explaining the nature of the disease, Dr. Ikhumosa described Ebola as a serious viral infection that spreads through direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of an infected person or someone who has died from the disease, as well as contaminated materials.
He noted that infected persons do not transmit the virus before symptoms develop, while the incubation period ranges from two to 21 days.
The Permanent Secretary stressed that the ministry considered the development a matter of serious public health concern and was reaching out to relevant health agencies and partners to strengthen preparedness and response measures.
He advised residents to avoid contact with blood and other body fluids, practice regular handwashing with soap and water, use appropriate alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and avoid handling the personal belongings of confirmed cases without proper protection.
He also urged anyone who develops symptoms such as fever, weakness, headache or muscle pain, particularly after a possible exposure, to seek immediate medical attention and follow the guidance of health professionals.
Dr. Ikhumosa further cautioned residents against spreading unverified information capable of creating unnecessary panic or undermining public health efforts. He encouraged the public to remain vigilant, calm and committed to preventive measures.
Those present at the briefing included the Governor’s Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Andrew Iyamu; the Executive Secretary of the Hospitals Management Agency, Nelson Tenebe; directors of the Ministry of Health; Dr. Aliu Nurudeen, a former Director of Nursing Services; representatives of the World Health Organization; and Dr. Oguira Osamuede, representing the Director of Medical Services.