With Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) still battling the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebolavirus, Nigeria has confirmed an imported case of the virus in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
It was reported that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this at a media conference in Abuja on Tuesday, following laboratory confirmation of the infection on October 20.
Pate revealed that the patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.
He described the case as a “contained case,” while assuring Nigerians that the government is working with relevant authorities and partners to prevent further transmission.
According to the minister, the woman was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received care for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.
He said contact tracing had commenced immediately, with 44 close contacts identified so far.
Pate added that public health teams are identifying and monitoring all persons who may have been exposed to the patient, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.
He added that surveillance has been intensified nationwide, while the hospital where the patient received treatment is receiving immediate support to strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.
The minister urged public and private healthcare facilities across the country to remain on high alert, advising healthcare workers to 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.
The minister explained further that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who is sick or has died from the disease, as well as through contact with contaminated materials and surfaces.
He stressed that an infected person cannot transmit the disease before symptoms begin.
He advised citizens to practise regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected to have Ebola, and watch out for symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly following possible exposure.
He also urged anyone who might have been exposed to report immediately, even if they feel well, while those who develop symptoms should avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
Pate called on members of the public to cooperate fully with contact tracing teams, including relevant airline passengers who might be contacted, and to avoid spreading unverified information or stigmatising potentially exposed persons.
He declared that Nigeria successfully contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 and has the experience and public health systems needed to respond to the latest case.
However, he emphasised that preventing further transmission will require early detection, prompt reporting and cooperation from the public.
The Minister assured that the Federal Government, FCT authorities and other partners will continue to monitor the situation through the Presidential Taskforce on Ebola Virus Disease and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
