The Federal Government of Nigeria has activated full emergency response mechanisms to contain the Ebola Virus Disease following the confirmation of an imported index case in Abuja, assuring Nigerians that the patient is in stable condition.
The government said the country has the technical expertise, surveillance infrastructure and medical facilities required to prevent a spread and urged citizens to remain calm.
Task Force on top of situation
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this after an emergency meeting of the task force at the State House, Abuja.
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Gbajabiamila said the infected traveller, a woman who arrived in Abuja without symptoms, developed signs four days after arrival but was quickly identified through existing surveillance and screening protocols.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Gbajabiamila said the detection demonstrated the effectiveness of measures put in place since the task force was inaugurated in June.
“Since the issue of Ebola came up in June, there have been about 44,000 flights in and out of Nigeria. All hands have been on deck. It is because of what the Ministry of Health, the task force and all the agencies have been doing,” he said.
He added that containment measures would be reviewed and strengthened, and appealed for cooperation between government and citizens to avoid panic.
Index case stable, contacts traced
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said contact tracing and isolation were ongoing and that the incident management system had been fully activated in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), World Health Organisation (WHO) and Africa CDC.
Contrary to speculations of deterioration, Pate said the patient, who tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain after three rounds of molecular tests, is in stable condition and receiving appropriate care in isolation at a health facility in the Federal Capital Territory.
“We are fortunate she is stable at this moment. Our hospital capabilities are activated and our teams are working day and night to contain this case,” Pate said.
He said health authorities have identified 44 contacts for monitoring, including hospital contacts and domestic staff, while investigations continue. He cautioned against misinformation.
Aviation surveillance heightened
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said aviation authorities have placed 46 linked persons on a no-fly list for 21 days and intensified screening at all international airports.
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He directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to notify airlines and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to sustain temperature checks, health declarations and travel history tracking.
The Senate and House of Representatives have also called for emergency funding through the Service-Wide Vote to strengthen port health services, surveillance and containment, warning against waiting for the 2027 budget.
