The Federal Government has begun monitoring 44 people who may have been exposed to Ebola virus disease after a woman who recently returned from Uganda tested positive in Abuja.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, disclosed this on Tuesday, saying the patient developed symptoms on October 7 but did not seek medical attention until October 11 at a private hospital in the Federal Capital Territory.
Pate said further tests confirmed the infection on October 20, adding that the woman had been isolated and was receiving medical care.
He said the contacts identified so far included health workers, patients, caregivers and people who might have travelled with the woman.
“Anyone contacted during the contact tracing period that we are in, including those who may have travelled with that individual, should provide necessary information requested and follow public health advice,” the minister said.
The Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the FCT Health Secretariat, the World Health Organisation and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention are working together to prevent further transmission.
Pate urged hospitals across the country to remain vigilant, promptly isolate suspected cases and report them to the relevant authorities. He also appealed to Nigerians to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and cooperate with public health officials.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr Jean Kaseya, has called for urgent international assistance to contain the wider outbreak affecting parts of Africa.
In a statement titled “Ebola in Nigeria: An Urgent Call for Global Solidarity,” Kaseya said the outbreak involving the Bundibugyo virus had spread across multiple countries and required immediate support.
Health officials have warned that symptoms of Ebola may include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea. Anyone who develops symptoms after possible exposure is advised to avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance.
Nigeria’s latest case comes amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Central and East Africa, prompting increased surveillance and preparedness measures across the region.
The Federal Government said it would continue working with relevant national and international health partners to monitor the situation, trace potential contacts and prevent the infection from spreading within the country.
The NCDC’s toll-free line, 6232, is available around the clock for information and reports of suspected Ebola cases.
