The management of the University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State has said it can deal with the Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola HF) outbreak. The disease is also known as Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Temitope Alonge, spoke in Lagos yesterday at a news conference facilitated by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN). Prof Alonge explained that Ebola belongs to a group of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs), a group of illnesses that are caused by several distinct families of viruses. He said: “In general, the term ‘viral hemorrhagic fever’ is used to describe a severe multisystem syndrome (multisystem in that multiple organ systems in the body are affected). Characteristically, the overall vascular system is damaged, and the body’s ability to regulate itself is impaired. These symptoms are often accompanied by hemorrhage (bleeding); diarhoea etc, however, the bleeding is it rarely life-threatening. While some types of hemorrhagic fever viruses can cause relatively mild illnesses, many of these viruses cause severe, life-threatening disease.” The CMD said the hospital has the human capacity and facilities to detect and manage the Ebola because, “We have been proactive as far back as 2012, by setting up VHF isolation precautions as well as standard precautions, which enabled us to manage Dengue fever and other outbreaks back then. It was later confirmed that no further nosocomial transmission of the virus was documented, indicating that although Dengue is highly infectious, the use of these measures is effective in preventing the spread of disease and other Viral hemorrhagic fevers, such as Ebola.” He said the major challenge now facing his hospital is how to cremate bodies of Ebola deceased, should there be in his hospital, but, “we have contacted the India communities and other experts in that field and they are ready to collaborate with us should the need arises. We have also printed out pamphlets in English, Yoruba and Hausa languages on what Ebola is, mode of transmission and preventive measures. We have enough Personal Protective Garments (PPG) for the workforce, so UCH is ready and prepared. It will be irresponsible of anybody to say we do not have the capacity in terms of laboratory to diagnose Ebola. The Minister, Prof Onyebuch Chukwu, has clearly stated that Nigeria can make accurate diagnoses of Ebola. “Not only that, we have a bill board that scrolls every five minutes at the main gate, called Orita Mefa (six-T- junctions), where passers-by stay glued reading the information on Ebola. The important thing now is to prevent contracting same by washing of hands with either soap, ash or use sanitisers.”