No corpse from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be allowed into Nigeria for now following the latest outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in that country.

This is one of the precautionary measures being put in place by the federal government to check the spread of the virus to Nigeria,according to the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris.

Idris told reporters in Ikeja yesterday that the state was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that there was no outbreak of EVD in the country.

“We are in collaboration with Port Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health with commencement of regional screening of passengers from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighbouring countries for any suspected cases of EVD or other VHFs. Embargo has also been placed on transportation of corpses from DRC,” he said.

He said factsheets on Ebola for health workers had been sent to the CMD of LASUTH, Medical Directors of General Hospital; the Primary Health Board; Health Service Commission and the Chairman Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners, Association of Laboratory Scientist of Nigeria, Association of Nursing and Midwifery Association of Nigeria and Morgue operators.

Besides, he said the State and LGA Disease Surveillance and Notification of Officers (DSNOs) have been sensitized on Ebola and other Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers, especially on prompt reporting of any detected suspected cases of Ebola and other VHFs by the Ministry in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Report sourced from Vanguard