A team from Doctors Without Borders dons protective clothing and equipment as they prepare to treat Ebola patients in an isolation ward of Mbandaka Hospital in Congo. PHOTO: AP

Nigerians have been advised to avoid all but essential trips to Uganda and other countries with confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases.

The advisory followed the January 30 confirmation of the outbreak of the Sudan strain of Ebola virus in Wakiso, Mukono and Mbale City by the Ugandan Ministry of Health.

“Ugandan health authorities are currently tracking 44 contacts to curb further spread,” Idris said.

Swinging into action, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris said the agency was reinforcing surveillance at entry points, updating emergency response plans and expanding diagnostic capacity in key laboratories.

He however clarified that Nigeria has no recorded cases.

He disclosed that in response to the development, the NCDC has: “Updated its EVD emergency contingency plan. Increased screening at points of entry, particularly international airports.

“Optimised diagnostic capacity for EVD testing in designated laboratories and mobilised Lassa fever testing laboratories, which can be scaled up for Ebola testing if needed.”

The director Director general of NCDC 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 adhere to the following preventive measures:” Practice good hand hygiene – wash hands regularly with soap and water or use hand sanitisers.

“Avoid contact with persons showing symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding.

“Refrain from consuming bush meat, especially bats and primates.

“Seek immediate medical attention if experiencing symptoms after travelling to an affected country.”

Additionally, he advised health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, use personal protective equipment (PPE), and report suspected cases immediately.

In the travel advisory yesterday, Dr. Idris noted that while the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not imposed travel restrictions on Uganda, anyone returning from affected areas within the last 21 days who develops fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding should immediately call 6232 or their state health hotline for assessment.

He advised such travellers to self-isolate and await response teams for further evaluation and possible transport to a treatment center.

The NCDC boss said the public health advisory became necessary because EVD has a 25-90% fatality rate and spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated objects, and wild animals like bats, chimpanzees, and monkeys.

Besides, he stressed that while vaccines exist for some strains of the Ebola virus, the approved vaccine for the Zaire strain is not currently available in Nigeria and does not protect against the Sudan strain responsible for the outbreak in Uganda.

Given this, he urged Nigerians to practice good hygiene, avoid bush meat and report symptoms immediately to prevent potential outbreaks.

He also advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, enforce strict isolation for suspected cases, adhere to infection control protocols, and report immediately to health authorities.

Beyond Ebola, Idris said that the country is currently battling outbreaks of Lassa fever, meningitis, diphtheria, Mpox, measles and anthrax.

Idris assured that the NCDC will continue to enhance surveillance, expand diagnostic capacity, and coordinate with global health organisations.

The building blocks of DNA have been found in samples returned to Earth from an asteroid, suggesting life rained down from space and could have formed elsewhere.

In 2016, Nasa sent its Osiris-Rex mission to drill down into the asteroid Bennu, with the cargo returning to Earth in 2023.

The first analysis shows that the four nucleotide bases of DNA – adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine – which form the rungs of the double helix, were all present.

Every living thing on Earth contains DNA, which stores the genetic information needed to build and maintain an organism.

It is the first time that all four nucleotide bases have been discovered together on an asteroid, and the samples were also found to contain 14 of the 20 amino acids that life on Earth uses to make proteins.

Nasa said the findings not only suggest that space rocks sparked life on Earth, but that the conditions for life were widespread across the early solar system.

Nicky Fox, the associate administrator for the Nasa Science Mission Directorate, said: “Bennu contains many precursor building blocks of life along with the evidence it comes from an ancient wet world.

Edo has recorded 56 Lassa fever cases and eight deaths between Dec. 30, 2024 and January 2025, says the Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole.

Oshiomhole confirmed the incident on Friday in Benin while formally declaring the situation of Lassa fever in the state.

“The 2025 epidemic year began on Dec. 30, 2024. Since then, 336 suspected cases have been reported, with 56 confirmed and eight resulting in death,” he said.

He said the outbreak posed significant public health risks due to its rapid transmission potentials and severe outcomes if not effectively managed.

Oshiomhole revealed that 14 patients are currently receiving specialised care at the Lassa Fever Treatment Center in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH).

He also noted that “In 2024, the state recorded 3,270 suspected cases, 292 confirmed cases, and 41 deaths, showing a decline from 2023 which recorded 65 deaths from 372 confirmed cases.”

According to him, the state has activated its Public Health Emergencies Response Management Team, collaborating with healthcare facilities, community leaders, and stakeholders to contain the outbreak.

As part of the response, measures include “enhanced surveillance, expanded treatment centers, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), public awareness campaigns, and partnerships with health organisations.”

He urged residents to report anyone with symptoms like fever, weakness, headaches, vomiting, or bleeding to the nearest health facility for early detection.

The commissioner also tasked the response team to reduce the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) and assured of government support to enhance Lassa fever management efforts.

He further said the molecular laboratory at UBTH had been optimised for Lassa fever testing, increasing the state’s capacity with two testing centers at UBTH and ISTH.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dr Ekaete Tobi of ISTH has been appointed as the state Lassa fever Incident Manager to coordinate outbreak control activities.