EXPERT CAUTIOUS BAYELSANS AGAINST PANIC, RUMOURS AND STIGMATIZATION OVER EBOLA

Dr. Ayebatari Agiri, medical expert, has explained the nature of the Ebola Virus Disease, its mode of transmission and preventive measures, as part of efforts to boost public health awareness in Bayelsa State.

Dr Agiri spoke as a guest on “Let’s Talk Nigeria”, a health and public affairs programme on Golden 97.5 FM, Yenagoa, which discusses issues affecting health, society, economy and governance.
On symptoms, Dr Agiri listed fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in some cases, internal or external bleeding, warning that such symptoms could resemble malaria and other infections and therefore require urgent medical assessment rather than self-diagnosis or self-medication.

Dr. Agiri added that although Ebola can be deadly, it can be controlled through early detection, prompt isolation of suspected cases, appropriate medical care, infection-prevention measures, contact tracing, public education and vaccination where an approved vaccine is available for the particular species.

She urged residents of Bayelsa and the wider Niger Delta to prioritize accurate information, personal hygiene, safe caregiving practices and prompt reporting of suspected cases, cautioning that panic, rumours and stigmatisation undermine public health efforts.

The programme emphasized the need for sustained public health education to prevent misinformation and ensure effective disease control.

Reported by Ebi Oyinki.