Renowned health experts have urged citizens to avoid panic following a confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease in the Federal Capital Territory.
They advised the public to maintain strict hygiene practices rather than succumbing to fear.
Dr. Oladipo Elijah Kolawole and Prof. Oyewale Tomori called on the Federal Government to prioritize transparent risk communication and contact tracing.
Their recommendations followed the confirmation that a female traveler from Uganda tested positive for the virus in Abuja.
Consequently, health authorities have intensified surveillance to contain the situation and prevent community transmission across the country.
Ebola Threat: Don’t Panic, Prepare, Experts Urge Nigerians As Health Authorities Monitor Contacts
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, confirmed that 44 close contacts are currently under strict public health monitoring.
Quarantine Measures: High-risk contacts, including healthcare personnel and caregivers, have been placed in designated quarantine facilities.
Patient Condition: Officials reported that the index patient is responding well to supportive treatment in an isolation center.
Contact Tracing: Epidemiologists are actively tracking travel-related contacts to interrupt potential transmission chains early.
Furthermore, public health experts emphasized that early case identification remains critical to replicating Nigeria’s successful 2014 containment response.
Experts Demand Transparency and Strategic Fund Allocation
Shifting to institutional response, Virologist Prof. Oyewale Tomori urged authorities to provide clear, verifiable updates regarding laboratory testing processes.
He stressed that full disclosure prevents public anxiety and suppresses harmful rumors surrounding the travel history of the index case.
“Do not panic, but prepare by observing established infection control protocols,” Tomori reiterated.
Meanwhile, infectious disease specialist Dr. Kolawole cautioned against public gatherings without adequate screening measures during ongoing political campaigns.
Finally, the experts urged the government to direct emergency funding to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to strengthen nationwide laboratory surveillance.
