The Federal Government has said political campaigns, conferences and other large public gatherings can proceed despite Nigeria’s confirmed imported Ebola case, assuring Nigerians that the situation is under control.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja, saying restrictions would only be considered if the public health situation deteriorated.
He also announced that the woman diagnosed with an imported case of the Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria is recovering, with laboratory results showing significant improvement.
Pate said clinicians attending to the patient had reported encouraging laboratory results.
“Today I spoke to the clinicians and I understand that lab results are showing great improvement and there’s a possibility that she would recover from this.
“However, we cannot hold our breath. We have to continue to pray and work hard to ensure that she survives it,” he said.
He said decisions would be guided by scientific evidence and expert advice, not speculation or political considerations.
He said health authorities had commenced contact tracing and quarantined high-risk contacts, while others had been isolated in line with public health guidelines.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has activated its incident management system to coordinate containment efforts with the Federal Capital Territory authorities and other relevant agencies.
The minister added that President Bola Tinubu had released additional resources to support the response, while the government was working with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and other technical partners.
According to Pate, Nigeria confirmed the infection and notified the WHO within 24 hours of being alerted by public health authorities. Further genomic sequencing is also being arranged to identify the virus strain.
He urged Nigerians to observe preventive measures, including regular handwashing and avoiding contact with infected persons’ body fluids, stressing that Ebola is not airborne.
Pate advised anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, headache and muscle aches, particularly those with relevant travel histories, to isolate themselves and promptly contact health authorities.
He also directed hospitals to prepare isolation beds and strengthen infection prevention measures, while urging private healthcare providers to report suspected cases immediately.
The minister warned against spreading misinformation, urging the media and the public to rely on verified updates from health authorities.
He said the government would continue surveillance at the country’s points of entry and provide regular updates through the NCDC.
“ We don’t want it to go beyond it, and there is no need to panic, but we have to be vigilant,” Pate said.
Meanwhile, the Government assured Nigerians that measures are in place to contain the country’s first confirmed imported case of Ebola, as health authorities intensify contact tracing, surveillance and infection prevention efforts.
Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats, Femi Gbajabiamila, gave the assurance on Wednesday after an emergency meeting of the task force at the State House, Abuja.
Gbajabiamila said the task force, inaugurated in June, had been strengthening the country’s preparedness through coordinated surveillance and response measures. He said existing protocols helped authorities identify the infection and pledged to reinforce monitoring and enforcement where necessary.
“The task force is on top of it. NCDC is on top of it; everyone is on deck,” he said, urging Nigerians to remain calm, comply with public health directives and avoid spreading misinformation.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the government had activated its incident management system in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and other relevant agencies.
Pate said 44 contacts of the infected woman had been identified for monitoring, while contact tracing and infection prevention measures were ongoing at the private health facility where she received treatment. The patient is in isolation and receiving medical care, according to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The woman reportedly arrived in Nigeria from Uganda and developed symptoms on October 7, four days after her arrival. She sought medical attention in Abuja on October 11, while laboratory tests confirmed the infection on October 20.
The government has called on public and private hospitals to maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly isolate suspected cases and report them to public health authorities. Nigerians have also been urged to follow official health guidance and avoid rumours that could trigger unnecessary panic.
The response involves federal and state health authorities, immigration and aviation agencies, private healthcare providers and international partners. Officials say continued surveillance, timely identification of contacts and strict infection prevention measures will be critical to preventing further transmission.