FG Confirms A Case Of Imported Ebola Disease In FCT, Activates Swift Response

By Ayodele Oni

A laboratory tests result conducted in Abuja, has confirmed a case of Ebola disease in the Federal Capital Territory,  (FCT) Abuja.

The Federal Governnent  announced that following the development, it has commenced contact tracing to prevent any further spread.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the patient was a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda.

According to the minister, the woman was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed. She is currently in isolation and receiving quality medical care.

Pate stated that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities were working together to contain the infection.

“Contact tracing has commenced with 44 close contacts identified presently,” the minister said.

He explained that public health teams were identifying and monitoring individuals who might have been exposed to the patient, including healthcare workers, other patients, caregivers and travel contacts.

The minister added that surveillance has been intensified, while the hospital where the patient was treated was receiving immediate support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.

Following the confirmation, the Federal Government urged public and private healthcare facilities across the country to heighten vigilance and promptly report suspected cases to the relevant health authorities.

Pate advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion, ensure the prompt identification and isolation of suspected cases, and strictly observe infection prevention and control protocols.

Explaining how the disease spreads, the minister said Ebola could be transmitted through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who is ill or has died from the disease, as well as through contaminated materials.

He stressed that an infected person could not transmit the disease before symptoms appeared.

The government urged Nigerians to remain calm while observing preventive measures, including regular handwashing and avoiding contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.

Residents were also advised to watch for symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly after possible exposure to the virus.

“If you develop symptoms, avoid close contact with others and call public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility,” the statement advised.

The minister further urged anyone who might have been exposed to report immediately, even if they felt well, and cooperate with public health officials conducting contact tracing.

Relevant airline passengers who might be contacted by health authorities were also advised to provide the necessary information and follow official public health guidance.

Pate cautioned against spreading rumours or stigmatising affected individuals, urging the public to rely on verified information from official health authorities.

The minister recalled that Nigeria had previously contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014, expressing confidence in the country’s public health systems and response experience.

“Nigeria successfully contained Ebola in 2014, and we have the experience and public health systems to respond to this case,” he added.

He, however, emphasised that preventing further transmission would require collective responsibility and cooperation from the public.

According to him, the Federal Government, FCT authorities and other partners were working to protect healthcare workers, patients and the wider population, while investigations into the latest case continued.

The government assured that it would provide further information as it became available through the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease and the NCDC.

Members of the public seeking information or wishing to report a suspected case were urged to contact the NCDC’s toll-free call centre on 6232, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.