Ebola: NCDC Warns Nigerians Against Travelling To Uganda

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Monday warned Nigerians and other
residents against embarking on non-essential travel to Uganda for now.

This was revealed by NCDC Director-General, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, who gave the caution in a statement he signed on Monday in Abuja.

He stated that the warning is to enable public health authorities determine how Ebola outbreak will be contained.

It was gathered that as at Oct. 29, 2022, the Ugandan Ministry of Health reported 128
confirmed cases and 34 deaths.

Adetifa cautioned that when travelling to Uganda became essential, travellers should avoid contact with obviously sick persons or suspected cases of Ebola.

He said that the Port Health Service of the Federal Ministry of Health had scaled-up screening of passengers returning from Uganda at Points of Entry (POEs).

The NDCD boss said “travellers to Nigeria with recent travel history to Uganda or persons already in Nigeria but with recent travel history to
or transit through Uganda within the past 21 days are to look out for symptoms.

“Symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhoea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain or unexplained bleeding or bruising
should promptly call 6232 or state ministry of health hotlines for assessment and testing.

“Such persons should not visit health facilities by themselves to avoid further spread through the shared transport system (public or private).

“They would be visited at home by dedicated responders for assessment and transported through designated transport arrangement
to designated treatment centre when required.

“Intending travellers to Nigeria with the above-stated symptoms before departure, should not travel to Nigeria, but call to report promptly
to Port Health Authorities and/or designated health authorities in the country of departure for testing and care,” he said.

He added that in-bound travellers to Nigeria with recent travel history to or through Uganda without symptoms on departure but
unwell while on transit, should be denied contact with other people.

Adetifa said such people are required to report to Port Health Service on arrival.