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The United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a health advisory to American citizens in the country following the Federal Government’s confirmation of a case of Bundibugyo virus disease, a form of Ebola.
In an advisory published on its official X account on Wednesday, the mission said Nigerian health authorities were conducting contact tracing and other public health measures following the reported infection.
The mission also noted that the Nigerian government had stated that the infected individual travelled by air from Uganda.
It urged American citizens and other travellers to consult the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for information on Ebola and health guidance for people travelling to Nigeria.
The advisory also warned people who might have been exposed to the virus to seek medical guidance if they developed symptoms associated with the disease.
“If at risk for Ebola, alert your healthcare provider if you are experiencing symptoms consistent with Ebola to receive guidance prior to presenting for care,” the mission stated.
The mission further advised travellers to continue taking malaria prevention medication as prescribed by their doctors, warning that malaria symptoms could resemble those of Ebola and trigger unnecessary alarm.
“Continue to take malaria prophylaxis as recommended by your doctor. Symptoms of malaria can mimic symptoms of Ebola, leading to preventable health scares,” it added.
It also advised travellers who had visited an area experiencing an Ebola outbreak to monitor their health for 21 days after leaving the area.
“Monitor your health for 21 days following travel to an area experiencing an Ebola outbreak,” the mission said.
The advisory urged American citizens in Nigeria to consult the US Embassy’s Nigeria country page for general health information and its list of medical providers when necessary.
It also encouraged travellers to check with their travel insurance providers about medical evacuation arrangements in case they fell ill while abroad.
“Check with your travel insurance provider about medical evacuation options should you fall ill while overseas,” the advisory stated.
The development comes as Nigerian health authorities intensify surveillance, contact tracing and other response measures to prevent further transmission of the virus.
