Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, don call on everybody for society to join hand together to stop the spread of the Ebola case wey enter Nigeria from another country. E urge Nigerians to follow public health advice, report any suspected case, and avoid spreading false information.
As e dey speak for one national briefing for Abuja on Thursday, Pate talk say government don activate emergency response measures, increase contact tracing and strengthen surveillance to prevent the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus from spreading enter communities.
Nigeria confirm the first Ebola case wey enter from another country for this current outbreak on October 20.
The patient na woman wey recently travel go Uganda. She dey receive medical treatment for isolation, while health authorities don identify 44 people wey get contact with her for monitoring.
Pate talk say as at the time of the briefing, no evidence show say the infection don spread enter the wider community.
“Within the last 48 hours, Nigeria don move quickly,” the minister talk as e commend the response team, technical partners and countries wey don offer support.
E describe the case as one wey dem don contain, and talk say health authorities dey work to prevent further spread.
“This na one case wey dem don contain, and we dey work seriously to make sure say e remain like dat,” e talk.
The minister stress say Ebola no be disease wey dey spread through air.
Na mainly through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of person wey get the infection, or materials wey don get contamination, Ebola dey spread.
E urge Nigerians to dey wash their hands regularly, avoid contact with other people body fluids and follow instructions from public health authorities.
E also call on health workers and medical facilities to maintain strict measures to prevent and control infection.
Pate talk say government go review its recommendations as new information dey come out. But e note say, for now, no public health reason dey wey require make dem cancel planned large gatherings or political campaigns.
“If the situation change, we go make decision,” e talk, adding say any decision go depend on scientific evidence and consultation with relevant experts.
E also warn political leaders make dem no turn the Ebola outbreak to political matter. E describe public health as something wey concern everybody, no matter their political party, tribe or religion.
“Health no get political party, e no get citizenship, e no get nationality, e no get tribe, and e no get religion,” e talk.
Pate acknowledge say some Nigerians still dey worry about whether dem fit trust official information, especially because of the distrust wey some people get during the COVID-19 pandemic.
E talk say laboratory tests don confirm the Ebola infection and warn say rejecting scientific evidence or spreading information wey nobody don verify fit make efforts to contain the disease difficult.
“The alternative to trusting the experts na tragedy,” e talk.
The minister urge journalists and members of the public to get correct updates from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
E talk say NCDC go continue to give daily updates, while e go also provide regular information and keep the presidential task force informed about the situation.
Pate add say government dey strengthen screening and risk assessment for Nigeria entry points, in line with international health regulations.
E call on anybody wey public health teams contact to cooperate fully and provide correct information. E stress say early reporting, effective contact tracing and cooperation from the public go play important role to prevent further spread of the disease.
The minister urge Nigerians to remain calm but stay alert, assuring everybody say government go continue to provide updates as the situation dey develop.
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