Ebola Alert: PSN Orders Nigerian Pharmacies To Heighten Vigilance, Issues Emergency Guidelines
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Lagos – Following Ebola Virus Disease outbreaks in Central and East Africa, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has issued emergency guidelines instructing pharmacists and pharmacy operators across the country to heighten surveillance and strengthen infection prevention measures.
Although Nigeria has not recorded any case of Ebola, the society emphasised that pharmacies must remain on high alert, as they are often the first point of contact for individuals seeking medical attention.
Recall that Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, confirmed that no Ebola cases have been detected in Nigeria. However, the PSN, in an advisory released over the weekend and signed by its President, Ayuba Tanko, urged community pharmacies and institutional pharmacy departments to immediately reinforce national biosecurity protocols to guard against any potential outbreak.
Surveillance And Early Detection
The PSN stressed that pharmacists across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory should maintain a high index of suspicion when attending to patients presenting symptoms consistent with Ebola, particularly those with recent travel history to affected countries. The document, tagged, “Official Public Health Advisory. “Enhanced Preparedness, Surveillance and Infection Prevention Guidelines for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)” highlighted that the incubation period for Ebola ranges from two to 21 days, with infected individuals becoming contagious only after symptoms appear.
Early symptoms include sudden high fever, severe fatigue, muscle and joint pains, headaches, and sore throat. Advanced symptoms may progress to vomiting, diarrhoea, skin rashes, impaired kidney and liver function, and bleeding from body openings. Pharmacists were instructed to routinely ask patients with sudden fever about recent international travel or possible contact with travellers from affected regions within the preceding 21 days.
The document reads, “Following recent declarations of an Ebola virus outbreak in Central and East Africa, and the Federal Ministry of Health’s proactive activation of nationwide surveillance measures, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) issues this urgent advisory.
While the Coordinating Minister of Health has confirmed there are currently no cases of Ebola in Nigeria, our position as frontline healthcare professionals and primary points of care makes absolute vigilance imperative. Community pharmacies and institutional pharmacy departments must act immediately to strengthen national biosecurity defenses.
“Frontline Triage and High Index of Suspicion. Community pharmacies are often the first port of call for individuals experiencing early symptoms of illness. Pharmacists across all 36 states and the FCT must maintain a high index of suspicion.
“Incubation Period: two to 21 days. Individuals are not infectious until symptoms appear. Early Presentation: Sudden onset of high fever, intense debilitating fatigue, muscle/joint pain, headache, and sore throat,” it added
Infection Prevention Measures
The society ordered the immediate restoration of hand hygiene stations in pharmacies nationwide. Hand washing points with soap and running water or alcohol-based sanitisers containing at least 70 per cent alcohol should be positioned at pharmacy entrances. Pharmacists and dispensing assistants were further advised to wear personal protective equipment, including masks and disposable gloves, when attending to patients showing signs of respiratory or systemic illness.
Operators of pharmacies were directed to intensify disinfection of high-contact surfaces such as counters, payment terminals, door handles, and consulting areas using bleach solutions or alcohol-based disinfectants. The PSN also cautioned against conducting non-essential invasive point-of-care tests, such as blood glucose checks and malaria rapid diagnostic tests, for patients with unexplained fever, in order to minimise possible blood-borne exposure.
Guidance On Medication And Misinformation
On self-medication, the society warned pharmacists against indiscriminate dispensing of antimalarial drugs and antibiotics for unexplained fever cases that fail to respond to standard treatment or are accompanied by severe gastrointestinal symptoms. It also urged pharmacists to counter misinformation and false claims surrounding herbal cures, saltwater baths, and other unverified remedies for Ebola. The advisory insisted that early supportive treatment in designated health facilities significantly improves survival chances.
The statement further reads, ““Progression: Severe vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained skin rashes, and impaired kidney and liver function. Advanced Stages: Internal and external bleeding (e.g., bleeding from gums, blood in stool and vomit.
“Critical Screening Protocol: For any patient presenting with sudden fever, always ask about recent international travel history (specifically to East/Central Africa) or contact anyone traveling from those regions within the last 21 days.
“Pharmacy Operations & Infection Control. To safeguard your staff, your patients, and your community, implement these Universal Precautions immediately:
“Revive Hand Hygiene Stations: Re-establish visible, mandatory hand-washing stations with soap and running water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers (minimum 70% isopropyl/ethyl alcohol) at all pharmacy entrance points.
“Enforce Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Ensure all frontline dispensing assistants and pharmacists wear appropriate medical masks and disposable gloves when interacting with patients showing visible respiratory or systemic illness.
“Surface Disinfection: The Ebola virus is highly susceptible to standard disinfectants. Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces- dispensing counters, point-of-sale machines, entry doors, and clinic spaces—frequently using a 0.5 percent sodium hypochlorite (bleach) solution or alcohol-based wipes.
“Paralyse Invasive Point-of-Care Testing: Temporarily pause non-essential capillary blood pricks (such as random blood glucose or malaria RDTs) if a patient exhibits an unexplained fever, to minimize potential blood-borne exposure.
“Strict Prohibitions Against Self-Medication. As custodians of medicines, pharmacists must actively discourage the public from self-treating severe symptoms.
“No Empirical Antimalarial/Antibiotic Cover for Unexplained Fever: If a patient presents with a fever that does not respond to standard therapy or is accompanied by severe gastrointestinal distress, do not continue empirical dispensing.
“Educate on False Claims: Dispel rumors regarding local herbal cures, excessive saltwater baths, or unverified treatments. Remind the public that early supportive care at a dedicated public health facility drastically improves survival rates.”
Emergency Response Protocols
The PSN outlined emergency response steps for suspected Ebola cases presenting at pharmacies. Pharmacists were directed to immediately isolate such individuals in low-traffic areas while maintaining a safe distance. Pharmacy personnel were warned against direct contact with bodily fluids such as blood, vomit, or sweat without specialised protective equipment.
The society instructed pharmacists to promptly contact the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Prevention through its toll-free emergency line, [6232](tel:6232), or notify state epidemiology units and Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers. Suspected patients should remain isolated until trained emergency response teams arrive for safe evacuation to designated isolation centres. The PSN cautioned against the use of public transport for such movement.
National Preparedness
The PSN emphasised that vigilance and professionalism among pharmacists and other healthcare workers would play a critical role in preventing any possible outbreak in Nigeria. While reassuring the public that no cases have been recorded locally, the society underscored the importance of preparedness, surveillance, and strict adherence to infection prevention guidelines.
The apex Pharmacy body in its statement advised, “Immediate Reporting and Isolation Protocol. If a suspected case enters your facility, remain calm and execute the following sequential protocol:
“The step one is Isolate the Patient — Gently escort the individual to a designated, isolated room or a low-traffic corner of the pharmacy away from other shoppers. Maintain a physical distance of at least 2 meters.
“The step two is avoid Direct Bodily Contact — Do not touch the patient’s skin, sweat, vomit, blood, or clothing. Ensure your staff does not attempt to handle any bodily fluids without full, specialized PPE.
“The step three is contact Public Health Authorities — Call the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) Toll-Free Hotline immediately at 6232, or contact your respective State Ministry of Health Epidemiology desk/Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO).
“The step four is await Trained Emergency Responders — Keep the patient isolated and comfortable until the specialized state epidemiologist or emergency response team arrives for safe transport to an isolation center. Do not advise them to use public transportation.
“Emergency Public Health Contacts, NCDC National Toll-Free Hotline: 6232; NCDC SMS Channel: 08099555577 and NCDC WhatsApp: 07087110839
“As an indispensable pillar of the healthcare delivery system, our vigilance can prevent an outbreak. Let us lead with professionalism, scientific accuracy, and calm expertise,” the PSN boss stressed.
The advisory reflects Nigeria’s proactive stance in safeguarding public health against Ebola, even in the absence of confirmed cases. By reinforcing biosecurity measures at pharmacies, the PSN aims to ensure that frontline healthcare providers remain equipped to detect, prevent, and respond swiftly to any potential threat.
