By Law Ibitoye
The Ekiti State Government has issued a health advisory urging residents to remain vigilant and observe preventive measures following the confirmation of an Ebola disease case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The advisory, issued on October 20, 2026, by the Ministry of Health and Human Services, outlined preventive measures, warning signs and emergency contact numbers for reporting suspected cases as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the disease into the state.
The government disclosed that the Federal Government confirmed the case on Tuesday after a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria from Uganda was diagnosed with Ebola following laboratory tests at a private hospital in the FCT.
According to the advisory, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has commenced contact tracing, with 44 close contacts identified for monitoring, while surveillance and infection prevention measures have been intensified.
To strengthen the state’s preparedness, the Ekiti Government said it had intensified public awareness campaigns through engagements with healthcare workers, traditional rulers, community leaders, religious organisations, civil society groups and the media.
The government also disclosed that radio jingles were being aired on two radio stations, while information, education and communication materials, including posters, had been produced and distributed to educate residents on preventive measures and the need for prompt reporting.
Other preparedness measures include training laboratory personnel on Ebola sample collection, handling and transportation; strengthening surveillance teams at the state and local government levels; and inaugurating an Ebola Virus Disease Technical Working Group to coordinate preparedness and response activities.
The advisory added that airport officials and environmental health officers had received orientation on passenger screening and triage at the airport and other points of entry.
It further stated that healthcare workers had undergone training in Ebola case management and infection prevention and control, while simulation exercises had been conducted at the treatment centre at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti.
The state government also disclosed that its burial team had been trained in safe and dignified burial procedures and that personal protective equipment, including gloves, facemasks and other laboratory consumables, had been procured and stockpiled.
Explaining how the disease spreads, the ministry said Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms or has died from the disease, as well as contact with contaminated materials.
It stressed that an infected person cannot transmit the disease before symptoms develop.
The government urged residents to watch out for symptoms such as sudden fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding, particularly among people who have travelled to countries reporting Ebola cases or had possible exposure to an infected person.
Residents were advised to maintain regular hand hygiene, avoid contact with the body fluids of suspected cases and promptly report possible exposure to public health authorities, even if they felt well.
The ministry further advised anyone who developed symptoms after possible exposure to avoid close contact with others and contact public health authorities for guidance before visiting a healthcare facility.
It urged residents to cooperate with contact-tracing teams, provide relevant information when contacted and avoid spreading unverified information or stigmatising people suspected of having the disease.
Reassuring residents, the government recalled Nigeria’s successful containment of Ebola in 2014, expressing confidence in the country’s public health experience and response capacity.
The advisory reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration to protecting healthcare workers, patients and the general public, while emphasising that early detection, prompt reporting and public cooperation were critical to preventing further transmission.
Residents who notice anyone exhibiting symptoms suggestive of Ebola, particularly those with a relevant travel history or possible exposure, were advised to report to the nearest general hospital or call the following emergency numbers:
- 07049204288
- 08160193629
- 07049204334
The government urged the people of Ekiti State to remain calm but vigilant and comply with public health guidance to safeguard their communities.