Following outbreaks of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, a strain for which there is no widely available licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment, the Lagos State Government last Sunday said it had launched a statewide emergency public awareness campaign tagged “Operation Lagos BioShield” to strengthen surveillance and prevent the possible importation of the Ebola virus into the state.
It must be noted, however, that the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, reassured residents that there was currently no confirmed case of Ebola in Lagos or anywhere in Nigeria, stressing that the campaign is a preventive response aimed at keeping the state ahead of any potential threat.
The Operation Lagos BioShield strategy is built on the core principles of detect, report and respond and is divided into three activation tiers – green, amber, and red. The key operational components and pillars of the initiative include surveillance and points of entry; diagnosis and laboratory capacity; isolation and case management; rapid response and governance; and risk communication and public awareness.
The public is admonished to cooperate. If you develop symptoms – such as fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding – after travelling from an affected region, you are advised to limit contact with others and immediately contact the Lagos State Ministry of Health via emergency numbers 112, 767, or directly to the state epidemiologist at 08023169485.
