The state government has advised Lagosians to be at alert and be mindful of what they do, eat and drink during the yuletide celebrations even as it urged residents to call the Ebola Help line or the Local Government nearest to them in case of any suspected case during the season.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris who gave the advice weekend urged residents to observe good personal and environmental hygiene as well as follow advice given by the State Government on the prevention of the Ebola Virus Disease.

A picture taken in Oshodi Heritage park in Lagos on October 20, 2014 shows an electronic information board on Ebola reading in pidgin English "No Shaking ! We go Chase Ebola Comot" which means "No cause for worry, we will chase Ebola away". Africa's most populous nation Nigeria was on Monday declared officially Ebola free but warned that it remained vulnerable as long as the virus was raging elsewhere in west Africa. The country representative of the World Health Organization, Rui Gama Vaz, said 42 days -- or two incubation periods of 21 days -- had elapsed without any new confirmed cases of the deadly virus.

According to Idris, “Presently, there is no active case of Ebola in the country but Ebola is still a threat in neigbouring West Africa countries and this puts the nation at risk. This is why we need to be on the alert and observe a high degree of personal and environmental hygiene especially during this season of celebrations to prevent the disease from resurfacing in the country again”.

He further advised citizens to take basic precautionary measures against the disease by washing their hands with soap and water frequently, particularly after touching sick people; avoid direct contact with body fluids like saliva, vomit, stool, semen, vaginal fluids and urine of suspected persons and avoid eating fruits half eaten by animals.

The Commissioner also urged citizens to cook all foods particularly meat thoroughly before eating, clean all surfaces that have been contaminated with body secretions with bleach or detergents and desist from sharing sharp objects such as needles and razor blade.

“Please, do not defecate or urinate indiscriminately and notify the health authority of anyone coming from any West African Country into your community. Be assured that the Lagos State Government is still carrying out active search for cases while follow-up on rumoured cases are on- going and we will keep providing you with update and disease prevention messages”, Idris stated.

The Commissioner added that signs and symptoms of Ebola include unexplained fever that does not respond to usual treatment, intense weakness, rashes, vomiting and diarrhoea which may be accompanied by bleeding from body openings like the ear, nose, mouth and anus.

Idris posited that Ebola Virus Disease is not a death sentence stressing that a sizeable number of those who contracted the disease are still alive adding that herbal remedies have not been proven to be efficacious.

While urging health workers to keep observing the universal safety precautions when dealing with patients, the Commissioner noted that early detection of the disease and care can save lives.

When laboratory confirmation of the country’s first Ebola case, in Lagos, was announced on 23 July, the news rocked public health communities across the country. There were panics amongst Nigerians. Not only because of the virus but because of the country’s population, for a disease outbreak, it is also a powder keg. The number of people living in Lagos is around 18 million and

Lagos is one of Africa’s largest city, also characterised by a large population living in crowded and unsanitary conditions in many slums.










culled from vanguard