The Federal Government has intensified efforts to contain Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with health authorities identifying 44 people who had close contact with the patient for monitoring.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, following information provided by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Adeniyi said the patient was a woman who recently travelled to Nigeria from Uganda on an international flight. She was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before testing positive for the virus.
The woman is currently in isolation and receiving medical care, the ministry said.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the FCT Health Services Secretariat are working together to contain the infection and prevent further transmission.
According to the ministry, contact tracing has commenced, with 44 people identified for monitoring and public health follow-up.
The individuals include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people who may have been connected to the patient’s journey or exposed to the virus.
Response teams are also conducting surveillance, laboratory testing and other public health activities in line with established protocols.
The government said the measures were aimed at detecting potential infections early, strengthening infection prevention and control, and reducing the risk of further spread.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Nigerians to remain calm, cooperate with health authorities and avoid spreading unverified reports about the outbreak.
It advised the public to follow updates and guidance issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC and other relevant authorities.
Adeniyi added that the foreign affairs ministry would continue working with relevant government institutions and other stakeholders to support the coordinated response.
He said further updates would be communicated through official channels as verified information became available.
