The Federal Government has confirmed a case of Ebola in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), launching an urgent public health response and identifying 44 close contacts for immediate monitoring.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, announced the development on Tuesday following laboratory confirmation. The patient, a female traveler who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, had been receiving care at a private medical facility in Abuja for several days before tests confirmed the diagnosis.
The incident marks Nigeria’s first case of the virus since the successful containment of the 2014 outbreak.
Immediate containment and contact tracing underway
Public health officials from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the FCT Health Services Secretariat have commenced rapid field investigations to isolate potential infection chains. The patient remains in strict medical isolation.
Outlining the federal response, Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate confirmed that contact tracing covers medical personnel and passengers who interacted with the patient prior to diagnosis.
“She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care,” Pate stated. “The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and NCDC are working closely with the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities to contain the infection and prevent further spread.”
“Contact tracing has commenced with 44 close contacts identified presently, with public health teams identifying and monitoring people who may have been exposed, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts,” he added.
Surveillance teams have reinforced infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols at the private hospital where the patient initially presented, while health workers nationwide have been instructed to heighten diagnostic screening.
“Healthcare facilities must maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention and control measures, and immediately report suspected cases to public health authorities,” Pate instructed.
Government urges calm, cites 2014 response infrastructure
The announcement follows heightened vigilance across East and Central Africa following recent Ebola outbreaks in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, alongside a reported case in Kenya earlier this month.
Reassuring the public, federal officials emphasized that Nigeria possesses the institutional memory and specialized infrastructure built during its acclaimed containment of the 2014 outbreak.
“We urge Nigerians to remain calm, stay vigilant and cooperate with public health authorities,” Pate noted. “The federal government, FCT authorities and other partners are working together to protect healthcare workers, patients and the wider public.”
“Early detection, prompt reporting and everyone’s cooperation are critical to preventing further spread. Containment requires the cooperation of all citizens,” he stressed.
The NCDC has activated its 24/7 emergency hotline (6232) for public enquiries and suspected case reporting as contact tracing continues across the nation’s capital.
Discover more from Pluboard
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.