Ebola: Ogun Intensifies Surveillance After FCT Case, Says No Infection Recorded

The Ogun State Government has intensified disease surveillance and emergency preparedness after the Federal Government announced an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), assuring residents that the state had recorded no cases as of October 21, 2026.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, urging residents to remain vigilant, observe preventive measures and avoid spreading unverified information.

Coker said Ogun had been on heightened alert since Ebola was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in March 2026, adding that 111 persons of interest, comprising passengers from high-risk countries, had been identified, monitored and discharged from follow-up after completing the required surveillance period.

She explained that the state’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre was coordinating preparedness and response activities to ensure the prompt identification, reporting and management of suspected cases.

According to the commissioner, the government had strengthened the capacity of Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers, port health officers, health educators, clinicians and community informants through training on appropriate response procedures.

She added that relevant national guidelines and protocols had been adapted for the state’s response, while public sensitisation and infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities were being intensified.

The commissioner explained that Ebola is a serious disease that can cause severe illness and death, with symptoms including fever, severe weakness, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Unexplained bleeding or bruising may also occur in some cases.

She noted that symptoms could develop between two and 21 days after exposure, stressing that the presence of these symptoms does not automatically mean a person has Ebola, although prompt professional assessment is essential, particularly where there is a history of possible exposure or travel to a high-risk area.

Coker said the disease spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who has developed symptoms, the body of someone who has died from Ebola, or materials contaminated with such fluids.

She advised residents to wash their hands regularly with soap and running water, use alcohol-based hand sanitiser when necessary, and avoid contact with the blood and body fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease. Residents were also cautioned against sharing needles, razors and other potentially contaminated items.

The commissioner urged anyone who might have been exposed to Ebola to contact public health authorities immediately without waiting for symptoms to develop. Anyone who develops symptoms after possible exposure should avoid close contact with others and contact health authorities before visiting a healthcare facility to ensure safe referral.

She also called on residents to cooperate with surveillance teams, provide accurate information when contacted by public health officials, and comply with established public health guidance. She warned against touching the bodies of people who die from suspected or confirmed Ebola, noting that safe and dignified burials must be handled by trained teams.

Coker further cautioned against rumours, discrimination and stigmatisation, urging residents to rely on verified information from official public health authorities.

She assured that the state government would continue working with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other relevant partners to monitor developments and implement measures to protect public health.

The commissioner also directed healthcare workers in public and private facilities to maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly identify and isolate suspected cases, observe strict infection prevention and control protocols, and immediately notify the state surveillance team through Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers in their respective local government areas.

Residents can report suspected cases or seek public health guidance through the State Epidemiologist on 08084250881 or the NCDC toll-free line on 6232.

Coker emphasised that early detection, timely reporting and cooperation among residents, healthcare workers and public health authorities remained critical to preventing the spread of the disease.