Health

Nigeria On Alert After Ebola Outbreak Confirmed In Uganda – NCDC DG

Published

4 months ago

February 3, 2025

Joel Ajayi

Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, has announced that the country is on high alert following the confirmation of an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Uganda.

He disclosed this on Sunday during an interview in Abuja.Idris stated that while Nigeria has no reported cases of Ebola, the NCDC, in collaboration with key stakeholders, has heightened surveillance measures to prevent the virus from being imported into the country.He explained that the outbreak, caused by the Sudan strain of the virus, was confirmed by Uganda’s Ministry of Health on January 30, 2025.“So far, one case and one death have been reported in Wakiso, Mukono, and Mbale City in Mbale District.

“Ugandan health authorities are currently tracking 44 contacts to curb further spread,” he added.In response to the outbreak, Idris said that the NCDC has taken several measures, including updating its Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) emergency contingency plan, increasing screening at points of entry—particularly international airports—and optimizing diagnostic capacity for EVD testing in designated laboratories.He added that the agency has also mobilized Lassa fever testing laboratories, which can be scaled up for Ebola testing if needed.

The NCDC Director-General assured Nigerians that proactive steps were being taken to mitigate any risk of an outbreak.

“While there is no immediate cause for panic, we must remain vigilant. The Ebola Sudan strain has no approved vaccine, making early detection and containment critical,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to follow key preventive measures, including practicing good hand hygiene by washing hands regularly with soap and water or using hand sanitizers.He advised avoiding contact with individuals showing symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding, as well as refraining from consuming bushmeat, particularly bats and primates.

“Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms after traveling to an affected country,” he emphasized.

Additionally, Idris called on health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, use personal protective equipment (PPE), and report suspected cases immediately.Idris noted that while the World Health Organization (WHO) has not recommended travel restrictions, he advised Nigerians to avoid non-essential travel to countries with confirmed Ebola cases

“Travelers returning from affected countries in the last 21 days with symptoms such as fever, sore throat, vomiting, or unexplained bleeding should immediately call the NCDC toll-free number (6232) or their State Ministry of Health hotline,” he emphasized.

Beyond Ebola, he highlighted that Nigeria is currently battling outbreaks of Lassa fever, meningitis, diphtheria, Mpox, measles, and anthrax.Idris reaffirmed the NCDC’s commitment to strengthening surveillance and response efforts across the country.Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is caused by the Ebola virus, which belongs to the Filoviridae family.There are five known strains of the virus, with the Zaire strain being the most deadly, followed by the Sudan strain.

Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals (blood, vomit, sweat, feces, saliva), contaminated objects, or infected animals.

The virus can spread through handling bushmeat, such as bats and primates, which are often carriers.Symptoms typically begin 2-21 days after exposure and include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.

As the disease progresses, organ failure and death may occur.Ebola outbreaks have occurred sporadically in several African countries, with the largest outbreak happening in West Africa between 2014 and 2016. The virus remains a public health concern in countries with known endemic transmission.

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Health

My Herbal Medicines Are Well Accepted Across The Globe, Prof Amodu Reveals

Published

6 days ago

May 31, 2025

The Gleamer

By David Maxwell

One of Nigeria’s leading voices in the support and propagation of herbal medicine, Professor Benjamin Amodu has revealed that his herbal medicines are widely accepted across the globe.

He made this revelation while speaking to our reporter at his laboratory in Abuja.

Amodu, known for his herbal cure for serveral communicable and non-communicable diseases like malaria, asthma, diabetes, enlarged heart, various cancers, chronic kidney disease even into the end stage, has boldly revealed that his herbal products enjoy a huge acceptance across the globe.

“Our medications are well accepted, both at home here in Nigeria and abroad too.

“This is because we’ve been sending our medicines not only to countries within the African continent, but also countries in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, America and even Oceania.

“We usually send our herbal medicines to Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, South Africa and many other African countries, and even to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Kingdom, USA, France, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Canada and virtually everywhere around the world without any issues.

“We have been sending them to these places via DHL and we haven’t had any issues whatsoever.”
Amodu also spoke of the wide acceptance his his herbal medicines have been enjoying at home here in Nigeria.

He said, “even though we may not have had the support anymore expects from the government, but the Nigerian people are not waiting for the government to tell them to either accept our medications or not.

“Since many patients we have treated with our products and get cured of the ailments keep talking about and announcing for others to know, we haven’t had a short supply of patients who either come to us themselves or through family members and other caregivers.

“So if the USA, UK, Canada and all these other countries can accept our treatment, plus those at home here in Nigeria, then I can confidently say that my products are well recognized and accepted across the world.”

Having spent about four decades researching into Traditional, Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, TCAM, with scores of papers published in reputable health journals and peer reviewed, Amodu, a professor of phytomedicine from the Triune Biblical University, USA, is no doubt a leading advocate for alternative medicine.

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