… Intensify Surveillance, Orders Emergency Preparedness
The Nasarawa State Ministry of Health has directed public and private health facilities across the state to intensify disease surveillance and strengthen emergency preparedness following the confirmation of an imported case of Ebola in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The advisory, dated October 21, 2026, followed confirmation of an Ebola case caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the FCT on October 20. The patient is in isolation, while contact tracing is ongoing in Abuja.
In a public health advisory signed by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Attah Peter Ombugadu, on behalf of the Honourable Commissioner for Health, the ministry instructed Local Government Area Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (LGA DSNOs), healthcare workers and heads of health facilities to implement immediate measures to improve the state’s readiness to detect and respond to suspected cases.
The ministry urged healthcare personnel to maintain a high level of vigilance, particularly when assessing persons with relevant travel or exposure histories within the preceding 21 days.
It directed health workers to promptly report suspected cases through established surveillance channels to the appropriate LGA disease surveillance officers and the State Epidemiology Unit, without waiting for laboratory confirmation.
Under the advisory, suspected patients must be separated from other patients, with unnecessary movement between health facilities avoided. Appropriate referral arrangements must also be made in line with approved national protocols.
The ministry further emphasised strict compliance with infection prevention and control procedures, including proper use of personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, environmental cleaning and safe handling of potentially contaminated materials.
Healthcare facilities were also instructed to obtain and document relevant travel, exposure and contact histories, while ensuring that identified contacts and suspected exposures are promptly reported to public health authorities for assessment and follow-up.
As part of preparedness measures, health facilities are expected to review their emergency response plans, confirm availability of protective equipment, assess triage arrangements and referral pathways, and ensure staff know the appropriate channels for reporting suspected cases.
The advisory also called for intensified public education on Ebola symptoms, transmission and prevention, urging health authorities to discourage rumours, stigma and the circulation of unverified information.
The ministry clarified that Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected symptomatic person, or contaminated materials, and is not spread through ordinary casual contact with an uninfected person.
It urged residents to remain calm, cooperate with health authorities and rely on official sources for information.
Members of the public who suspect an Ebola case were advised to contact the state Rapid Response Team on 07035970293 or 07026366529.
The ministry stressed that all health facilities and local government surveillance teams must treat the advisory with urgency and ensure immediate compliance.
