The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, has urged Nigerians to cooperate with contact-tracing teams and avoid spreading misinformation following the confirmation of an Ebola Virus Disease case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Umar said public cooperation, early detection and adherence to health guidelines were essential to preventing further transmission of the disease.
In a statement, she said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), working with the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant authorities, were coordinating the national response.
She disclosed that the confirmed patient had been isolated and was receiving medical care, while contact tracing and surveillance activities were ongoing.
The NEMA chief said the agency remained prepared to provide coordination and emergency-support assistance as required under the country’s national emergency-management framework.
She urged Nigerians to remain calm and vigilant, stressing that there was no need for panic but that everyone must take necessary precautions to protect themselves and others.
According to her, Ebola spreads mainly through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person who is ill, as well as contaminated materials.
She advised Nigerians to wash their hands frequently with soap and running water or use alcohol-based hand sanitisers, while avoiding direct contact with the blood and bodily fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease.
Umar also warned against unsafe contact with wild animals and handling dead wild animals, adding that members of the public should not touch or prepare the bodies of people suspected of dying from Ebola.
She said such burials should be handled by trained health authorities to minimise the risk of transmission.
The NEMA director-general further advised anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting or diarrhoea following possible exposure to seek medical guidance immediately.
She appealed to Nigerians to provide accurate information to public-health officials and comply with instructions from contact-tracing teams.
Umar also cautioned against rumours, misinformation and stigmatisation, urging the public to rely on official health information.
She said the NCDC could be contacted on its toll-free number, 6232, for official guidance or to report a suspected case.
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Recalling Nigeria’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014, Umar said the experience demonstrated the importance of early detection, responsible individual behaviour, effective contact tracing and coordinated action by relevant institutions.
She assured Nigerians that NEMA would continue to support the national response as required while strengthening public awareness and emergency preparedness.
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