The Lagos State Government has assured residents that no case of Ebola has been recorded in the state, while strengthening surveillance and emergency response measures following the confirmation of an imported Ebola Bundibugyo virus case in Abuja.
The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, gave the assurance in a statement on Sunday, urging residents to remain calm, vigilant and guided by verified information.
Abayomi said the Ministry of Health, through its Directorate of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, was intensifying disease surveillance, public awareness and community engagement to prevent a possible outbreak.
He added that the state was working with relevant agencies at points of entry, including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), to improve early detection and response to suspected cases.
According to him, the government recently conducted a strategic engagement and assessment at MMIA involving airport management, Port Health Services and other aviation and public health stakeholders.
The exercise focused on passenger screening, information sharing, infection prevention and control, and coordination of emergency response measures.
The commissioner said the ministry was also intensifying public enlightenment on Ebola, including its symptoms, modes of transmission and preventive measures.
Ebola Virus Disease is a severe and potentially fatal illness transmitted primarily through direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of infected people who are showing symptoms, contaminated materials, or the bodies of people who have died from the disease. Transmission may also occur through contact with infected animals.
Abayomi advised residents to avoid contact with potentially infectious materials and disregard rumours or unverified reports about the disease.
He explained that Ebola symptoms could appear between two and 21 days after exposure and may include fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Unexplained bleeding or bruising may also occur in some cases.
The commissioner cautioned that the early symptoms could resemble malaria and other common illnesses, urging anyone who becomes unwell, particularly after possible exposure or travel from an affected area, to seek prompt medical assessment.
In line with Lagos State’s fever-management policy, he advised residents with fever to undergo a malaria rapid diagnostic test before taking antimalarial medication.
Where the test is negative, he said, a healthcare professional should assess other possible causes and recommend appropriate treatment.
Abayomi also urged residents to wash their hands regularly, avoid contact with the body fluids of sick people, refrain from handling potentially contaminated materials and stay away from sick or dead wild animals.
Travellers arriving in Nigeria, particularly from areas reporting Ebola transmission, were advised to cooperate with Port Health Services and other authorised officials by providing accurate travel and health information and complying with public health guidelines.
He further urged anyone who develops symptoms during travel or after arrival in Nigeria to notify the appropriate health personnel promptly and seek guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
Airlines and airport operators, he said, should maintain established public health protocols, while travellers should consult official advisories issued by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria.
The commissioner advised anyone who suspects exposure to Ebola, especially following contact with a suspected or confirmed case, to contact public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
He said suspected cases and exposure concerns in Lagos could be reported through the state’s emergency numbers, 112 or 767, or directly to the Directorate of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, Lagos State Ministry of Health, on 08023169485.
“Early detection and prompt reporting save lives,” Abayomi said.
He assured residents that the state government would continue to monitor developments, strengthen surveillance and response readiness, coordinate with relevant stakeholders and provide verified updates as necessary.