The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted its suspension on the issuance of new visas to Ugandan nationals, easing travel restrictions introduced in June following an outbreak of the Ebola virus in the East African country.
The confirmation followed reports of two individuals presenting symptoms suggestive of Ebola in Yola, prompting the Adamawa State Government and the NCDC to activate public health response measures.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed this in an update published on its official X handle on Saturday, saying laboratory testing and contact-tracing activities were ongoing.
The Federal Government has approved ₦45.08 billion for integrated biosecurity and disease surveillance systems at five international airports as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to detect and contain Ebola and other dangerous pathogens.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said Nigeria must complete a 42-day monitoring period before it can be officially declared free of Ebola, despite the evacuation of the country’s confirmed patient and her husband to Switzerland.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, disclosed this in a statement posted on his official X handle on Monday, confirming that the evacuation was completed earlier in the morning.
The 42-year-old woman was evacuated from Abuja on Monday aboard a medical evacuation aircraft, accompanied by her husband, who has remained asymptomatic, according to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.
Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed the development at a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday, saying the agency had activated isolation and quarantine facilities while strengthening surveillance and laboratory testing to prevent further spread of the deadly virus.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof.Muhammad Pate, says Genomic analysis of Nigeria’s imported Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case has shown that the isolated virus appears closely related to that identified in the index case in Kenya.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, had alerted the higher authorities to the likelihood of Ebola’s importation into the country. The manner of its entry, the initial reaction to its origin, and where it was detected showed that no adequate proactive measures were taken.
The Flamingos made history last week by becoming the first African team to win the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup following a 2-1 win over Japan in Morocco.
