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Insists no evidence of community spread yet
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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Government has begun moves to counter public distrust and misinformation surrounding Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola case, insisting that there is no evidence of community transmission and ruling out, for now, any ban on planned conferences and major public gatherings.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, gave the assurance at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, stressing that the government would continue to base its decisions on scientific evidence and expert advice rather than speculation or political considerations.
Pate disclosed that the infected woman’s condition was improving, with laboratory results showing encouraging progress, but warned that the government could not afford to relax its containment measures.
He said the immediate priority was to prevent the imported case from spreading into communities through intensified contact tracing, isolation, surveillance and public awareness.
“We are trying to contain it, so that it doesn’t go out to the communities or become generalised. Hopefully, it won’t get to that. And we are working very hard to ensure that that doesn’t happen,” he said.
The minister disclosed that the patient was asymptomatic when she arrived in Nigeria but developed symptoms a few days later.
“Following confirmation of the infection, public health authorities immediately initiated contact tracing to identify people who might have been exposed.
“Contacts have been identified at the hospital, in domestic settings and at a private health facility attended by the patient. They have been categorised according to their levels of risk, with high-risk contacts placed in facility-based quarantine and others managed under appropriate isolation arrangements,” he said.
Pate further stated that the government was monitoring the contacts and enforcing public health guidelines to prevent further transmission.
He disclosed that clinicians attending to the patient had reported significant improvement in her laboratory results, raising hopes of recovery.
“Today, I spoke to the clinicians and I understand that her lab results are showing great improvement and there is a possibility that she would recover from this. But we cannot hold our breath,” he said.
Addressing concerns about the possible cancellation of conferences and other major events, the minister said the government had not found sufficient public health grounds to alter existing arrangements.
“At this moment, there is no indication that requires us to alter the course of large gatherings that have been planned,” he said.
He, however, noted that the position could change if new evidence emerged, adding that any decision would be made after consultation with relevant experts and based on the best interests of public health.
On the growing public distrust, Pate expressed concern that misinformation and conspiracy theories circulating on social media could undermine the containment effort.
Responding to a question about Nigerians who doubt the existence of the outbreak, he said the government had a responsibility to communicate transparently and provide information based on verified facts.
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He disclosed that the patient had tested positive on three occasions, arguing that public scepticism should not discourage people from complying with instructions issued by health authorities.
“People who dismiss the outbreak as fabricated could ignore quarantine or isolation directives and potentially expose others to infection.
“The alternative to trusting the experts is a tragedy. Hence, Nigerians should seek information from credible sources and demand evidence from those spreading unverified claims,” he said.
The minister cited Nigeria’s experience with polio vaccination misinformation, warning that public health interventions could be undermined when false information prevents people from taking necessary precautions.
He urged political leaders to avoid politicising the outbreak, describing health as an issue that transcended political, religious and ethnic differences.
“Health has no political party, has no citizenship, has no nationality, has no tribe, no religion. It is a great unifier,” Pate said.
He also appealed to journalists to report the outbreak responsibly and avoid amplifying rumours, assuring them that the government would continue to provide regular updates as investigations progressed.
Beyond public communication, the minister said the government had strengthened surveillance at Nigeria’s points of entry to reduce the risk of further imported cases.
He disclosed that the Port Health Services Department of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare had been directed to ensure that thermal imaging equipment was functional and that travellers were assessed according to risk-based protocols consistent with international health regulations.
Pate assured that the government would continue to monitor the situation in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other regional and international health agencies.
He added that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) was coordinating the operational response alongside the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and state governments.
“We have also briefed the Presidential Task Force, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the National Economic Council to ensure coordinated action at the federal and state levels,” the minister said.
He confirmed that additional resources had been made available to support the NCDC’s response, while states had been directed to complete their preparedness plans and strengthen their capacity to respond should the situation deteriorate.
He disclosed that Professor Christian Happi, a renowned genomics expert at Redeemer’s University, Ede, had been invited to complement the NCDC’s work, including efforts to sequence the virus and obtain further information about it.
The minister urged hospitals, particularly private health facilities, to strengthen infection prevention and control measures, prepare isolation facilities and ensure that health workers used appropriate protective equipment when attending to suspected cases.
He also advised Nigerians to wash their hands frequently, avoid contact with the blood and other body fluids of suspected cases, and promptly report compatible symptoms, particularly where there was a possible exposure history.
Pate maintained that the government was not taking the situation for granted, despite the absence of evidence of community spread, and would continue to adjust its response as new information became available.
He assured Nigerians that the government would remain transparent about what was known, what remained uncertain and the measures being taken to protect public health.
