The Lagos State Government has assured residents and visitors of its readiness to prevent, detect and respond to potential public health threats following the confirmation of an imported case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The state government urged the public to remain calm and vigilant, stressing that there is currently no confirmed case of Ebola in Lagos.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said the Ministry of Health was strengthening disease surveillance, risk communication and community engagement to enhance preparedness and ensure early detection of any suspected case.
Abayomi said the ministry, through its Directorate of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, was also collaborating with relevant agencies at points of entry, particularly the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), to strengthen monitoring and response measures.
As part of the preparedness efforts, the state 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, as well as coordination of emergency response measures.
The commissioner added that the ministry was intensifying public enlightenment through educational materials explaining Ebola, its symptoms, modes of transmission and preventive measures.
Ebola Virus Disease is a severe illness that can be fatal. It spreads primarily through direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms, contaminated materials, or the bodies of people who have died from the disease. Transmission may also occur through contact with infected animals.
The government advised residents to avoid contact with potentially infectious materials and rely on verified information from official health authorities rather than rumours or speculation.
According to the statement, symptoms may appear between two and 21 days after exposure and 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 warned that early symptoms could resemble malaria and other common illnesses, urging anyone who becomes unwell, particularly after possible exposure or travel from an area experiencing active transmission, to seek prompt medical assessment.
He also reiterated the state’s fever-management policy, which requires people with fever to undergo a malaria rapid diagnostic test before taking antimalarial medication. Where the test is negative, a healthcare professional should assess other possible causes and determine the appropriate treatment.
Residents were further advised to wash their hands regularly, avoid contact with the body fluids of sick persons, 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 urged to cooperate with Port Health Services and other authorised officials, provide accurate travel and health information when requested, and comply with applicable public health guidance.
Anyone who develops symptoms during travel or after arrival should promptly notify the appropriate health personnel and seek guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
The government also called on airlines and airport operators to maintain established public health protocols, while advising travellers to consult official guidance from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The statement advised anyone who suspects exposure to Ebola, especially following contact with a suspected or confirmed case, to contact public health authorities promptly for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
In Lagos, suspected cases or relevant exposure concerns may be reported through the state emergency numbers, 112 or 767, or to the Directorate of Epidemiology, Biosecurity and Global Health, Lagos State Ministry of Health, on 0802 316 9485.
Abayomi 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.
He urged residents to remain calm, practise recommended preventive measures and follow official public health announcements, noting that early detection and prompt reporting were essential to saving lives.
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