By Omoyeni Ojeifo
The Federal Government has confirmed that no case of Ebola Virus Disease has been detected in Nigeria despite the recent outbreak of Bundibugyo ebolavirus disease (BEBOV) reported in parts of East and Central Africa.
The reassurance was contained in a press statement issued on Tuesday, June 2, by the Assistant Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ado Bako, and obtained by Persecondnews.
According to the ministry, heightened preparedness and response measures have nevertheless been activated nationwide to strengthen the country’s capacity to prevent any possible cross-border transmission of the virus.
“There is presently no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria. However, heightened preparedness measures have been activated nationwide to strengthen national health security and prevent cross-border disease transmission,” the statement said.
The ministry explained that official preparedness protocols, advisories, and technical guidance documents had already been uploaded to its website to support public awareness, stakeholder sensitisation, and institutional compliance.
As part of preventive measures, authorities said surveillance and screening activities had been intensified at airports, seaports, and land borders across the country.
The ministry stated that all arriving travellers are being subjected to temperature screening using infrared thermal scanners and handheld thermometers, while mandatory health declaration forms and travel history assessments are also being conducted.
It added that enhanced traveller risk assessments, secondary screening procedures, isolation protocols, and referral mechanisms had been established for persons presenting symptoms associated with viral haemorrhagic fevers.
“Enhanced screening procedures have been activated at all Points of Entry, including temperature checks, health declaration forms, and risk assessments for incoming travellers,” the ministry added.
The government further disclosed that Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response activities had been strengthened nationwide alongside event-based and community-based surveillance systems.
According to the statement, public health alerts and rumours are also being actively monitored and investigated as part of ongoing epidemiological risk assessment efforts coordinated with regional and international health partners.
The ministry also confirmed that Public Health Emergency Operations Centres and Rapid Response Teams had been placed on standby at national and sub-national levels to ensure rapid containment if any suspected case emerges.
“Rapid Response Teams have been placed on standby at national and sub-national levels, with laboratories, emergency coordination systems, and isolation protocols fully activated,” it stated.
Laboratories across the country, it said, had intensified biosafety and biosecurity measures, while healthcare workers, surveillance officers, and frontline personnel continued to undergo sensitisation and preparedness training.
Healthcare facilities nationwide have equally been directed to maintain a high index of suspicion for viral haemorrhagic fevers, strengthen triage systems, promptly isolate suspected cases, and strictly comply with reporting procedures.
The Federal Government urged Nigerians to remain calm, avoid misinformation and unverified rumours, and rely solely on official updates from recognised public health authorities.
It also advised citizens to maintain regular hand hygiene, avoid direct contact with bodily fluids of symptomatic persons, refrain from handling dead animals or bushmeat from unknown sources, and promptly report unusual illnesses or deaths to health authorities.
“Members of the public are advised to maintain regular handwashing with soap and running water, avoid contact with bodily fluids of symptomatic individuals, and promptly report unusual illnesses or deaths to the nearest health authority,” the ministry stated.
Persecondnews recalls that the health ministry had earlier placed Lagos, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Taraba and Adamawa states under intensified Ebola surveillance, while NCDC Director-General Jide Idris said Nigeria’s Ebola preparedness level currently stands at 59 per cent.