FG Reveals Major Airports To Monitor Against Coronavirus

Following the spread of the deadly Coronavirus which started in China some weeks ago, the Federal Government of Nigeria in order to avoid the disease from its entring the country has disclosed measures already set out.

According to the information made available on Tuesday to newsmen in Abuja, Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire revealed that the federal government has already put up a multisectoral committee to boost its effort in avoiding and detecting any strange threat of the deadly disease in each of the airports.

Dr. Osagie during the press conference held in Abuja on the called to begin national sensitization and health awareness noted that the Federal government will focus on the five major airports in Nigeria.

“The committee would comprise of critical stakeholders in the health, security, aviation and transport sectors as well as development partners,” said Osagie.

He added, “Bearing in mind that air travelers, rather than land border crossers, are more likely carriers of this type of virus, attention will focus largely on our five international airports.

“Considering the possibility of importation of the coronavirus to Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health is working with relevant ministries and agencies to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and response to public health emergencies at our various points of entry.”

“The Port Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health is the responsible public health authority at international Points of Entry (airports, seaports and land borders) and is currently implementing measures at these points to forestall importation of the coronavirus to Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, Naija News had reported that Scientists in Australia have successfully replicated the coronavirus that appeared in China in December in what they describe as a crucial step forward in the fight against the ongoing viral pneumonia epidemic.

The Doherty Institute in Melbourne announced on Wednesday that it had been able to create a new coronavirus from a sample obtained from an infected patient, for the first time outside of China.