By Ameh Sunday Enyo-ojo
The Niger State Government has placed its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre on heightened alert and intensified disease surveillance following the confirmation of an Ebola Virus Disease case in Abuja.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Murtala Muhammad Bagana, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, assuring residents that no case of the disease had been detected in Niger State.
Bagana said the precautionary measures became necessary because of frequent movements between Niger State and Abuja, activities around the Minna International Airport and the state’s international border with the Republic of Benin.
The Federal Government had on Tuesday confirmed an imported Ebola case involving a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria from Uganda.
The patient is receiving treatment in isolation, while 44 close contacts have been identified, according to the report.
The commissioner said the state government was coordinating its preparedness efforts with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organisation, local government health authorities and other development partners.
He added that public and private health facilities had been directed to report suspected cases immediately, while disease surveillance officers and local government health teams had intensified monitoring, notification and investigation activities.
According to him, the state is also reviewing arrangements for the safe transportation and isolation of suspected cases, alongside measures to strengthen infection prevention and control in health facilities.
The measures include the use of protective equipment and the safe handling of clinical waste to reduce the risk of infection among healthcare workers and other residents.
Bagana urged residents to remain calm, maintain proper hygiene and wash their hands regularly with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
He also warned against direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola.
The commissioner advised residents who develop symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding, particularly after possible exposure, to avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities before visiting a medical facility.
He further urged anyone who suspects possible exposure to seek medical guidance promptly, even if they have not developed symptoms.
The state government cautioned residents against spreading unverified information or stigmatising people being assessed by health officials, stressing that living in or travelling to Niger State does not automatically mean a person has been exposed to the virus.
Residents can report suspected cases through the Director of Public Health on 0703 458 3079, the State Epidemiologist on 0807 721 3070, or the State Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer on 0807 529 1989.
The National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s toll-free helpline is also available on 6232, where accessible.
Bagana reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting residents, healthcare workers and visitors, urging the public to rely on information from recognised health authorities.
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