Kingsley Nwezeh
11 November 2009
Abuja — Sequel to the confirmation of the first case of influenza, AH1N1, also known as swine flu, the Federal Ministry of Health said yesterday that contrary to concerns raised in some quarters about the development, there was no subsisting travel restriction on travellers moving in or out of the country as a result of the development.
A statement issued in Abuja by the ministry said movement of people with the necessary travel documents would go unimpeded in line with the international regulations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) as appropriate measures were being taken at the designated entry points in the country to monitor the situation.
"Further to the official confirmation of the first confirmed case of Influenza A/H1N1 in the Country in a nine-year old American girl residing in Lagos two days ago, we have been informed that there are concerns about the free movement of immigrants in and out of the country.
"Even though the country has recorded one confirmed case, we hasten to state categorically that in line with World Health Organisation's International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) there is no travel restriction into or out of Nigeria, as a result of the occurrence of the influenza in Nigeria. Any person can come into the country once he or she has a valid entry document especially since there are appropriate surveillance and safeguard measures being taken at out ports of entry," it said. "We wish to re-emphasize the fact that the girl involved recovered fully and is well and back to school.
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