By CHIEDU UCHE OKOYE

A medical expert, Prof. Nnamdi Onyire, of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ebonyi State, has advised Nigerians to check themselves to see if they are manifesting symptoms of Ebola disease.

His advice came against the backdrop of the reported outbreak of Ebola disease in some countries in East and Central Africa.

Onyire, who doubles as the Chairman of the Obosi Development Union (ODU) Committee on Health, spoke to this reporter on June 12, 2026 at his Obosi country home.

“We got report that there is outbreak of Ebola disease in some parts of East and Central Africa. And it is likely to result in fatalities. So we don’t want to be taken unawares by the spread of the disease as it a contagious disease.

“Based on this, I am advising people who manifest symptoms of the Ebola disease to visit hospital for proper medical tests, diagnosis, and treatment,” Onyire said.

He listed symptoms of the Ebola disease as fever, weakness and tiredness, headache, muscle and body pains, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.

According to the revered university don, people can avoid contracting the disease by maintaining high personal hygiene, desisting from coming into contact with the body fluids of sick people, and not touching dead animals.

“To avoid contracting Ebola disease, wash your hands with soap and water, avoid contact with people, who have Ebola disease, don’t touch dead animals, and don’t carry out unsafe burial practices,” he advised.

Although Ebola is a disease with high mortality rate, medical proofs show that it can be successfully treated if people who show signs of the disease seek early medical treatment at hospitals.

And the people who are at the risk of getting infected with the viruses that cause the disease are health workers, family members of people afflicted with Ebola disease, laboratory workers, and travellers with exposure in affected area.

Ebola is a deadly and severe illness that is caused by a group of illnesses known as orthoebolaviruses.

•Chiedu Uche Okoye is of the Anambra state ministry of information.