The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged Nigerians to follow public health advice following the confirmation of an Ebola Virus Disease case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as health authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission.
NEMA Director-General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, said the confirmed patient had been isolated and was receiving medical care, while contact tracing and surveillance were ongoing.
In a statement signed by Umar on Wednesday, she said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in collaboration with the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities, were coordinating the response.
“At this time, our most important message to Nigerians is: remain calm, remain vigilant and follow official health advice. There is no need for panic,” she said.
Umar explained that Ebola spreads mainly through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person who is ill, or through contaminated materials.
She advised Nigerians to wash their hands frequently with soap and running water or use alcohol-based hand sanitisers. She also warned against direct contact with the blood and bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease.
Umar cautioned against unsafe contact with wild animals, including handling dead animals, and urged Nigerians not to touch or prepare the body of anyone suspected of dying from Ebola. She said trained health authorities should handle such burials.
She advised anyone who develops symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting or diarrhoea after possible exposure to seek medical guidance immediately.
The NEMA director-general also urged the public to cooperate with contact-tracing teams and provide accurate information to public health officials.
She warned against spreading rumours and misinformation or stigmatising suspected cases, urging Nigerians to rely on verified information from health authorities.
According to her, members of the public can seek official advice or report a suspected case through the NCDC toll-free line, 6232.
Umar cited Nigeria’s containment of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, saying the experience demonstrated the importance of early detection, responsible individual behaviour, effective contact tracing and coordinated action in stopping transmission.
She said NEMA would provide emergency support to the national response as required.