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With Ebola confirmed in Abuja, attention has turned to how quickly health authorities can prevent the infection from spreading.
The Federal Government says the patient is receiving treatment in isolation, while health officials are tracing and monitoring 44 identified contacts.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, laboratory tests confirmed the infection on October 20 in a woman who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and transited through Uganda before arriving in Nigeria.
The case involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, while investigations continue into the likely source of infection.
Although authorities have activated response measures, the situation underscores the importance of public awareness and early detection.
Ebola is a serious viral disease transmitted mainly through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person, or contaminated materials.
Knowing how the virus spreads and taking the right precautions can help reduce the risk of infection.
Here are five ways to protect yourself and others:
1. Maintain proper hand hygiene
Wash your hands regularly with soap and clean running water, particularly after using the toilet, caring for a sick person or coming into contact with potentially contaminated surfaces.
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser when soap and water are unavailable.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Healthcare workers and caregivers should follow established infection-prevention procedures when attending to suspected or confirmed cases.
2. Avoid contact with the body fluids of infected people
Do not touch the blood, urine, faeces, saliva, sweat, vomit, breast milk or other body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola or confirmed to have the disease.
Avoid contact with clothing, bedding, needles, medical equipment and other items that may be contaminated.
People recovering from Ebola may also require specific precautions because the virus can persist in certain body fluids, including semen, for months after recovery. Survivors should follow medical advice on testing and preventing transmission.
Anyone caring for a suspected or confirmed patient should leave such duties to trained personnel equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment.
3. Ensure safe handling and burial of deceased persons
The bodies of people who have died from Ebola can remain highly infectious. Traditional funeral practices involving the touching, washing or preparation of a deceased person’s body can therefore expose mourners to the virus.
Only trained and properly equipped burial teams should handle the remains of suspected or confirmed Ebola victims.
Families and community members should follow public health guidance on safe and dignified burial practices while avoiding direct contact with the body.
4. Avoid contact with wild animals and bushmeat
Ebola can spread from infected animals to humans. Potential sources include fruit bats and certain primates, while contact with infected wildlife, animal blood and raw or inadequately handled meat can pose a risk.
Avoid touching wild animals that are sick or found dead. During outbreaks, refrain from hunting, butchering or handling potentially infected wildlife, and follow public health advice on bushmeat consumption.
Wash your hands thoroughly after handling animal products and ensure meat is properly cooked before consumption.
5. Seek medical attention promptly after possible exposure
Anyone who may have been exposed to Ebola should contact health authorities promptly and follow their instructions.
The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days, so people with a possible exposure should monitor their health throughout this period.
Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhoea. Unexplained bleeding can also occur, although it is not present in every case.
Anyone who develops symptoms after possible exposure should seek medical attention immediately and inform healthcare workers about their exposure and travel history.
Where possible, contact the health facility before arriving so staff can make the necessary arrangements to prevent potential exposure to others.
What Nigerians should know
The current case involves the Bundibugyo virus, a strain for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment established for routine use.
The Ervebo vaccine targets the Zaire ebolavirus species and should not be assumed to protect against the Bundibugyo strain.
Preventing further transmission therefore depends heavily on early detection, prompt isolation of suspected cases, contact tracing, effective infection prevention in healthcare facilities and public awareness.
Nigerians should remain vigilant without panicking, avoid spreading unverified reports and follow updates from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
These measures are essential as health authorities work to contain the infection and prevent further spread.
