The federal government, through the Nigerian Centre for
Disease Control (NCDC), has issued a red flag to Nigerians on the spread of
Novel Coronavirus, a new virus, from China to other parts of the world.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also called
on Nigerians and others travelling through the country to comply with measures
issued by appropriate bodies to ensure that the virus does not spread to
Nigeria.
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The NCDC called on Nigerian travellers to Wuhan City in
China to avoid contact with sick people, animals and animal markets, as
travellers from the region to Nigeria might be subjected to checks by the
Nigerian Port Health Service unit at airports and land borders.
In a statement made available to THISDAY Wednesday and
signed by the Chief Executive Officer, NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, the federal
government said it was currently coordinating a multi-sectoral technical group
to assess and manage the risk of importation of the disease to Nigeria.
From Wuhan, the deadly disease which as at yesterday had
already claimed the lives of 17 people, has spread to other cities in China and
then to Thailand, Republic of Korea, Japan and the United States with five
cases already confirmed, all in a space of 14 days since the index case was
first confirmed on January 7, 2020.
Chikwe said: “NCDC is in close communication with the World
Health Organisation (WHO), who is closely monitoring the situation globally.
WHO is in direct communication with the Chinese government and other affected
countries and has released technical and travel guidance.
“The Port Health Services unit of the Federal Ministry of
Health in Nigeria has been placed on alert and has heightened screening
measures at the points of entry. In China, exit screening measures have been
enhanced for travellers from Wuhan City at the Points of Entry (airports and
ground transport stations) since January 14, 2020. This includes temperature
checks, combined with provision of information and masks to passengers with
fever, as well as directing symptomatic passengers to health facilities for
follow up.
“Nigerians are advised to remain calm. Travellers from
Nigeria to Wuhan, China, are advised to avoid contact with sick people, animals
(alive or dead) and animal markets. Travellers from Wuhan to Nigeria may be
asked questions upon arrival by the Port Health Services unit at points of
entry.”
Chikwe expressed the commitment of NCDC and its partners to
strengthening the preparedness and response to infectious disease outbreaks.
He said the agency would share information as quickly as
it’s available.
“There is no specific treatment for disease caused by the
novel coronavirus yet. However, many of the symptoms can be treated. Therefore,
treatment is based on the patient’s clinical condition. In addition, supportive
care for infected persons can be highly effective,” he stated.
The first case of a Novel Coronavirus strain (2019-nCoV) was
confirmed in Wuhan, China on January 7, 2020 with preliminary investigations
showing most patients either visited or worked in the Huanan Seafood wholesale
market, Wuhan City and as at January 20, 2020, there has been 278
laboratory-confirmed cases of the 2019-nCoV infection including six deaths
reported to the WHO.
“Many of the initial cases were thought to have contacted
the virus through animal-to-human transmission from the market, but
human-to-human transmission has also been established. Global surveillance is
being established and it is expected that more cases will be reported over the
next weeks,” he added.
According to the WHO, Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning
they are normally transmitted between animals and people. A novel coronavirus
(nCoV) is a new strain of the virus that has not been previously identified in
humans. Some coronaviruses can be transmitted from person to person, usually
after close contact with an infected patient, for example, in a household or
health care setting. Several known coronaviruses are circulating in animals
that have not yet infected humans.
The World Health Organisation said it would be convening its
emergency committee to determine whether this outbreak should be declared a
“Public Health Event of International Concern” (PHEIC).
Symptoms
According to Chikwe, the new coronavirus 2019nCoV appears to
cause mild to severe respiratory symptoms like cough and breathing difficulties
and from current evidence, it appears that death is a rare outcome, mostly in
patients with underlying illness.
How to Protect Yourself
He said: “The spread of virus can be reduced by regular hand
washing with soap under running water, covering of mouth and nose properly with
handkerchief or tissue paper when sneezing and/or coughing. You may also cough
into your elbow if a handkerchief is not available. Avoid close contact with
anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
Avoid self-medication, report to the nearest health facility when you
experience any of the above-mentioned symptoms. Healthcare workers are always
advised to observe standard infection prevention and control measures when
attending to patients and take a travel history.
Treatment
He stated: “There is no specific treatment for disease
caused by the novel coronavirus yet. However, many of the symptoms can be
treated. Therefore, treatment is based on the patient’s clinical condition. In
addition, supportive care for infected persons can be highly effective.”
FAAN Issues Travel Advisory over Coronavirus
Meanwhile, FAAN has urged Nigerians travelling to China to
comply with measures issued by concerned bodies to ensure that the new virus is
prevented from spreading into Nigeria.
FAAN in a statement in Lagos yesterday and signed by its
General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, said: “In an effort
to protect passengers from the epidemic ravaging some countries and to prevent
the spread of such communicable diseases into Nigeria, the Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria hereby advises passengers and other airport users to
comply with all quarantine procedures at the nation’s airports.”
The agency said all the equipment and personnel used in
combating the deadly Ebola virus in 2014 were still in place at the airports.
FAAN added that it has always had thermal scanners in
airports to monitor temperature of passengers and capture their pictures,
explaining that when passengers walk past the scanner, it registers their temperature
and if too high, such passengers are pulled aside for observation.
FAAN stated that it was collaborating with the Federal
Ministry of Health, which has confirmed the adequacy of the facilities at the
nation’s international airports, to prevent the importation of the virus
through the facilities into Nigeria.
It advised passengers to submit themselves for routine
quarantine checks.