Nigeria says it has the capacity to contain the latest Ebola outbreak, drawing confidence from its successful response to the disease in 2014.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, gives the assurance following a meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant but avoid panic.
Mediaplusng.com reports that Nigeria confirmed one Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday. The patient, a woman who recently arrived in the country on an international flight from Uganda, is receiving treatment in isolation at a private hospital in Abuja.
Health authorities have identified 44 close contacts and commenced contact tracing. Those being monitored include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.
Pate says containment measures have been activated to prevent the virus from spreading into the wider population.
He stresses that the discovery of the case, coupled with the prompt response by public health authorities, provides an opportunity to stop further transmission.
The minister also calls on Nigerians to rely on information from trusted public health sources and avoid spreading misinformation and unverified reports.
Nigeria is drawing on its experience from the 2014 Ebola outbreak, when the country successfully contained the disease following the arrival of Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer in Lagos.
The outbreak resulted in 20 cases, including 19 laboratory-confirmed cases and one probable case, with eight deaths.
The Federal Ministry of Health, the Lagos State Government and international partners established an Ebola Incident Management Centre on July 23, 2014, to coordinate containment efforts.
On October 20, 2014, the World Health Organisation declared Nigeria free of Ebola transmission after the country completed 42 days without a new case.
Odianosen Ehiakhamen, Incident Manager for the National Ebola Disease Response and an assistant director at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, says officials who participated in the 2014 response have been identified to support the current efforts.
He explains that the experience of these public health professionals will strengthen coordination and guide the ongoing response.
Ehiakhamen also says the NCDC intensified its preparedness before the Abuja case was confirmed. Following a risk assessment in May, the agency increased its preparedness level and activated an alert.
The agency is monitoring response times, including how quickly alerts lead to health facility visits, sample collection and laboratory testing.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the government’s assurances come amid concerns over funding and emergency response capacity.
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to release outstanding funds appropriated for health agencies to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing and emergency response.
Lawmakers have also highlighted the need for adequate infection prevention supplies, health-worker preparedness and stronger emergency response systems.
The Senate has separately called for the immediate release of emergency funds from the Service Wide Vote and improved health screening at airports and other entry points.
As Nigeria intensifies its response, public health authorities face the urgent task of identifying contacts, monitoring possible exposure and preventing further transmission.
While the country’s 2014 experience offers valuable lessons, sustained surveillance, adequate funding, transparent communication and public cooperation remain essential to containing the current outbreak.
For Nigerians, the message from health authorities is clear: remain vigilant, follow official health guidance and avoid panic.
