Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has called for a whole-of-society response to contain Nigeria’s imported Ebola case, urging Nigerians to follow public health advice, report suspected cases and avoid spreading misinformation.
Speaking at a national briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Pate said the government had activated emergency response measures, intensified contact tracing and strengthened surveillance to prevent the Bundibugyo strain of the virus from spreading into communities.
Nigeria confirmed its first imported case in the current outbreak on October 20.
The patient, a woman with a recent travel history to Uganda, is receiving medical care in isolation, while health authorities have identified 44 contacts for monitoring.
Pate said there was no evidence at the time of the briefing that the infection had spread into the wider community.
"Within the last 48 hours, Nigeria has swiftly moved,” the minister said, commending the response team, technical partners and countries that had offered support.
He described the case as contained and said authorities were working to prevent further transmission.
“This is a contained single case, and we are diligently working to ensure that it remains so,” he said.
The minister stressed that Ebola is not an airborne disease.
It is primarily transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person, or contaminated materials.
He urged Nigerians to wash their hands regularly, avoid contact with other people’s body fluids and comply with guidance from public health authorities.
He also called on health workers and medical facilities to maintain strict infection prevention and control measures.
Pate said the government would review its recommendations as new information emerged but noted that there was no current public health indication requiring the cancellation of planned large gatherings or political campaigns.
“If the situation changes, we’ll make a determination,” he said, adding that any decision would be based on scientific evidence and consultation with relevant experts.
He also cautioned political leaders against politicising the outbreak, describing public health as a shared concern that cuts across political, ethnic and religious divisions.
“Health has no political party, has no citizenship, has no nationality, has no tribe, no religion,” he said.
Pate acknowledged concerns among some Nigerians about the credibility of official information, particularly following public distrust during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said laboratory testing had confirmed the Ebola infection and warned that rejecting scientific evidence or spreading unverified claims could undermine containment efforts.
“The alternative to trusting the experts is a tragedy,” he said.
The minister urged journalists and members of the public to rely on verified updates from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
He said the NCDC would continue its daily briefings, while he would provide regular updates and keep the presidential task force informed.
Pate added that the government was strengthening screening and risk assessments at the country’s points of entry in line with international health regulations.
He called on anyone contacted by public health teams to cooperate fully and provide accurate information, stressing that early reporting, effective contact tracing and public cooperation would be critical to preventing further transmission.
The minister urged Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant, assuring the public that the government would continue to provide updates as the situation develops.
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