Abuja — The Federal Government yesterday declared that the swine flu epidemic currently ravaging Mexico and some parts of Europe has not been reported in any part of the country.

Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, who made this known, confirmed that no case of the Influenza had so far been reported in Nigeria

The Minister who addressed reporters at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, however, urged those just back from trips abroad having chest pain, muscle pain and headache to quickly visit the nearest hospital where they would be isolated and treated in order to avoid the spread.

He added that the Federal Government had made protective bags available at various hospitals and ports should the need arise for people to wear protective masks.

Also commenting on the issue, the Special Assistant (Communications) to the Minister of Health, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday also said Nigeria is yet to record any suspected case of Swine Flu.

The spokesman also said government had come up with an immediate National Preparedness and Response Work Plan for swine flu outbreak in Nigeria. The plan is also being shared with the states' health authorities for a coordinated national response.

According to him, the World Health Organisation (WHO) case definition with surveillance guidelines and swine flu laboratory guidelines had been disseminated to all epidemiologists in the 36 states of the federation and Abuja

"The epidemiologists have been directed to carry out sensitization activities and conduct active surveillance in their various states and we have feedback that this has commenced in some states," he said.

Ojuolape further stressed that appropriate drugs and supplies such as Oseltamivir, PPEs, disinfectants, face masks and transport media (VTM) have been distributed to all states of the federation and Abuja, while states' health authorities had been advised and strongly encouraged to acquire more in order to beef up and strengthen their level of preparedness.

"The Federal Ministry of Health recommends routine precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as washing your hands often, covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze," the statement further advised

Shedding more light on the influenza as it affects the world, the statement said as at two days ago, "the United States government has reported 66 laboratory confirmed human cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 with one death in six states, while the report from Mexico is still 26 confirmed human cases of the same virus with seven deaths.

"Canada also has six cases with no death and Spain with one case and no death. Other countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Israel, Britain and Germany have also reported suspected cases".