Delta State reviews emergency measures to prepare for potential Ebola outbreak

The Delta State Government in Nigeria has enhanced its disease surveillance and emergency response measures to guard against a potential Ebola virus outbreak, New Telegraph reported. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, led a meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the ministry alongside directors and staff from the Epidemiology Unit. [1]

During the meeting, health officials evaluated existing surveillance protocols and emergency response plans across all 25 local government areas in Delta State. According to New Telegraph, the discussions focused on assessing the availability of necessary resources required to manage any prospective disease outbreak effectively. [1]

Ebola virus disease is a severe and frequently fatal hemorrhagic fever affecting humans and other mammals. The virus caused an epidemic in West Africa between 2013 and 2016, which resulted in at least 28,646 suspected cases and 11,323 confirmed deaths. [7]

Separately, LEADERSHIP Newspapers and Head Topics reported that the Nigerian Medical Association in Kwara State urged residents to follow preventive practices to avert the spread of Ebola. Head Topics noted that the medical association recommended adopting measures previously utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic. [4][6]