ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that it is working closely with Uganda to contain the risk of an Ebola outbreak following reports of a Nigerian woman contracting the virus in the East African country.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, gave the assurance on Wednesday while responding to questions from journalists after a meeting at the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Pate’s comments followed questions about reports concerning a suspected or reported Ebola case involving a Nigerian woman in Uganda, amid statements attributed to Ugandan authorities indicating that there was no Ebola case in the country.
The minister said Nigeria was collaborating with Uganda and had activated public health measures to contain the reported case and prevent possible transmission within the country.
“All I can tell you is that we are collaborating with our sister African nation of Uganda. What is important is that we have found this one case. We are doing contact tracing, and we are putting containment measures to ensure that it doesn’t go into our population,” Pate said.
More Read
Nigeria Intensifies Ebola Containment Measures
According to the minister, contact tracing and other public health interventions are central to the government’s efforts to prevent further transmission.
Contact tracing involves identifying people who may have been exposed to an infected person, assessing their risk and monitoring them for symptoms where necessary. The process is an important tool in controlling the spread of infectious diseases.
More Read
Pate expressed confidence in Nigeria’s public health institutions, noting that the country had previously managed an Ebola outbreak in 2014.
“We have done it in 2014, and we have good public health institutions,” he said.
Nigeria successfully contained the Ebola outbreak recorded in 2014, an experience that demonstrated the importance of rapid case identification, isolation, contact tracing and coordinated public health action.
The minister’s reference to the country’s previous experience underscored the government’s emphasis on preparedness and the need for an organized response to the reported case.
Pate Urges Nigerians to Remain Vigilant, Avoid Panic
Pate urged Nigerians to remain alert while avoiding unnecessary fear, stressing that the public should rely on verified information from trusted health authorities.
He cautioned against the circulation of misinformation and unverified reports, which could create confusion and undermine public health efforts.
More Read
“Nigerians should be reassured. We must be vigilant, but not panic, and people should respect public health information from trusted sources, and not spread misinformation and false rumours,” the minister said.
He added that the government would continue to provide updates as new information became available.
“We would be truthful to Nigerians with the information that we receive on a daily basis. I will be receiving a report. NCDC has an incident management system,” Pate stated.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) plays a key role in coordinating disease surveillance, preparedness and emergency response activities in the country.
Public Health Authorities Expected to Provide Further Updates
The reported case has highlighted the importance of cooperation between African countries in responding to infectious disease threats, particularly when cases involve international travel.
Coordinated surveillance, information sharing and timely public health interventions can help authorities identify potential exposures and reduce the risk of further transmission.
Nigerians are encouraged to follow official advisories from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC and the World Health Organization (WHO), rather than rely on unverified messages circulating on social media.
While the government has assured the public that containment measures are being implemented, further official information will be important in clarifying the details of the reported case and the extent of any potential exposure.
