Lagos asks hotels and clubs to improve hygiene after Ebola alert

The Lagos State Safety Commission has told hotel and nightclub owners to improve hygiene and safety measures. This comes after global alerts about Ebola virus outbreaks in Central and East Africa.

PUNCH Metro reports that this advice follows increased biosecurity checks at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. So far, there are no confirmed Ebola cases in Lagos or anywhere else in Nigeria.

In a statement released to PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, the commission explained that the advice is important because Lagos is a major travel hub and business center. They said it is necessary to take action to protect both residents and visitors.

The statement said, “Following the recent global health declarations regarding the Ebola virus outbreak in parts of Central and East Africa and the subsequent strengthening of biosecurity screening protocols by the Federal Government at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

“The Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, has issued a critical precautionary advisory directed at all owners, operators, and managers of hospitality and social establishments across the state.

“The Commission strongly emphasises that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola within Lagos State or Nigeria; however, the city’s status as a major international travel hub and commercial epicentre necessitates immediate, proactive measures to safeguard residents and visitors alike.

He said that busy places like nightclubs, hotels, event centers, lounges, and restaurants should lead the way in putting preventive steps in place. This is because they have many face-to-face and close-contact interactions.

The commission has ordered all public and private operators to immediately set up hand hygiene stations. These should have running water and liquid soap or commercial-grade alcohol-based hand sanitizers at all entry points and common areas.

He also urged all establishments to increase the cleaning and disinfection routines. They should use hospital-grade disinfectants on surfaces that many people touch, like countertops, door handles, handrails, menus, and payment terminals.

“Furthermore, he urged management teams to properly train front-of-house, housekeeping, and security personnel to recognise early symptoms of illness, implement daily health checks for staff, and enforce a strict stay-at-home policy for any employee exhibiting signs of fever,” the statement added.

The statement further required hospitality centres to have a temporary, well-ventilated area on-site. This space should be for any patron or staff member who suddenly becomes very ill while waiting for medical help.

Aside from hygiene rules, venue operators are advised to control crowd sizes to avoid overcrowding and to ensure good ventilation in closed spaces.

Mojola urged all operators to stay calm, alert, and cooperative. He noted that safety inspectors will increase routine monitoring and support visits across the state to make sure everyone follows the rules.

“Any suspected medical emergency involving severe fever or illness must be immediately isolated and reported to the official Lagos State health hotlines at 08023169485, 08033565529 or 07000SAFETY,” the statement added.

According to a report from NBC on Sunday, May 31, more than 40 people have died in a worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Authorities and aid groups are working hard to control the spread of the virus.

The current strain, the Bundibugyo virus, is seen by the World Health Organisation as “a severe and often fatal form” of Ebola.

As of Saturday, May 30, the WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported 43 confirmed deaths in both countries. This includes 42 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and one in Uganda.

The report also showed that 349 suspected deaths have been recorded in both countries.

The WHO believes the virus comes from fruit bats, and humans get infected by coming into contact with fluids from sick animals.