Federal government has confirmed one case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory and identified 44 close contacts as part of efforts to prevent further transmission, health authorities said on Tuesday.
Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Ali Pate announced the laboratory-confirmed case in a statement. The patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.
“A woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed,” the statement said.
The woman is currently in isolation and receiving medical care. Public health teams have begun tracing the 44 identified contacts and are working to identify and monitor others who may have been exposed, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), and the FCT Health Services Secretariat are coordinating the response. Surveillance has been intensified, and the hospital where the patient was treated is receiving support to strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
Authorities urged public and private healthcare facilities nationwide to remain on high alert. Healthcare workers were directed to maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention protocols, and immediately report any suspected infections.
Pate advised Nigerians to remain calm while observing preventive measures, including regular handwashing and avoiding contact with the blood or body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.
“Anyone who develops symptoms should avoid close contact with others and call public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility,” the statement said.
Symptoms to watch for include fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly among people who may have been exposed.
The confirmation comes amid a regional Ebola outbreak. Nigeria previously contained an outbreak in 2014 after the disease was introduced by an infected traveller.
The NCDC toll-free call centre on 6232 is available 24 hours a day for information or to report a suspected case.
