Pharmacists Directed to Implement Urgent Monitoring Measures Amid Ebola Concerns

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, has issued a nationwide alert to pharmacists and community pharmacies, following recent outbreaks of Ebola virus disease, EVD, in parts of Central and East Africa, as announced by the President of the PSN, Ayuba Ibrahim Tanko, on Saturday.

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This directive aims to strengthen surveillance, infection prevention measures, and emergency response protocols across the country, particularly in light of concerns over cross-border transmission risks, despite the Coordinating Minister of Health confirming that Nigeria has not recorded any Ebola cases.

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Pharmacists are among the first healthcare professionals likely to encounter suspected cases, and the PSN has warned them to maintain absolute vigilance, as community pharmacies often serve as the first point of contact for individuals experiencing early symptoms of illness.

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The society has emphasized that pharmacists across all 36 states and the FCT must remain alert, given that Ebola symptoms can begin with sudden high fever, intense fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, before progressing to more severe symptoms.

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To prevent the spread of the disease, the PSN has advised pharmacists to immediately screen patients with unexplained fever for recent travel history to affected regions in East and Central Africa or possible contact with travellers from those areas within the previous 21 days.

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As part of emergency infection prevention measures, the PSN has directed all pharmacies to reinstate compulsory hand hygiene stations at their entrances, using soap and running water or alcohol-based sanitisers, to minimize the risk of transmission.

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Frontline pharmacy staff have been ordered to wear medical masks and disposable gloves when attending to visibly ill patients, and high-touch surfaces, including dispensing counters, doors, and payment terminals, must be disinfected regularly using bleach solutions or alcohol-based wipes.

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The society has also instructed pharmacies to temporarily suspend non-essential blood-prick tests, such as random blood-sugar checks and malaria rapid diagnostic tests, for patients presenting with unexplained fever, to reduce the risk of exposure.

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Furthermore, the PSN has warned against the dangers of self-medication practices, cautioning pharmacists against indiscriminate dispensing of antimalarials and antibiotics for persistent or unexplained fever cases.

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The advisory has explicitly stated that pharmacists should not continue empirical dispensing if a patient presents with fever that does not respond to standard therapy or is accompanied by severe gastrointestinal distress.

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In addition, the PSN has urged pharmacists to counter misinformation and false claims about unverified herbal remedies, saltwater baths, and other purported cures for Ebola, emphasizing that early supportive care at a dedicated public health facility drastically improves survival rates.

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The society has outlined strict emergency procedures for handling suspected Ebola cases within pharmacy premises, requiring pharmacists to isolate suspected patients immediately, avoid direct physical contact, and promptly notify public health authorities through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, emergency lines or state epidemiology officers.

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Pharmacists have been advised not to advise suspected patients to use public transportation, but instead to keep the patient isolated and comfortable until trained emergency responders arrive.

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The PSN has described pharmacists as an indispensable pillar of the healthcare delivery system, emphasizing that vigilance and early detection remain critical to preventing another Ebola outbreak in the country.

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The society has concluded by urging pharmacists to lead with professionalism, scientific accuracy, and calm expertise in the face of this potential health crisis.