Delta State officials announced on Tuesday that the state is intensifying its Ebola preparedness measures after a suspected case was reported in Abuja, even though no Ebola case has been recorded in Delta.
The government said it has begun a programme of training for health workers and stepped up disease surveillance across the state. The training is aimed at improving early detection and response capabilities, while the surveillance effort focuses on monitoring health facilities and communities for any signs of the virus.
State health authorities emphasized that the measures are precautionary and part of a broader effort to keep the population safe. “We are taking proactive steps to ensure that any potential threat is identified and contained promptly,” a spokesperson for the Delta State Ministry of Health said.
Ebola, a viral hemorrhagic fever with a high fatality rate, has caused major outbreaks in West Africa in the past decade, including a 2014 episode that reached Nigeria and resulted in a single confirmed case in Lagos. The experience has led Nigerian states to maintain vigilance and preparedness plans for the disease.
Delta State, located in southern Nigeria, is home to several million residents and a network of public and private health facilities. Authorities said the ongoing training and surveillance will continue until the risk assessment confirms that the state remains free of Ebola cases.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
