The Federal Government has said that Nigeria still has only one confirmed case of Ebola virus disease.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this on Friday during a briefing on the country’s response.
According to him, genomic analysis shows the virus is closely related to that of the index case in Kenya, adding that authorities are intensifying contact tracing, quarantine and laboratory testing, with some results from suspected contacts returning negative while others are awaited.
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“We had reported one confirmed case that was imported, and we are conducting contact tracing as well as putting in place measures to respond to that outbreak,” Pate said.
“We still have only one confirmed case. The contacts are being traced, quarantined, and we are conducting additional tests, some of which are negative and others are pending,” he added.
He further said genomic sequencing of the isolated virus had provided fresh information about its relationship with the virus identified in Kenya.
He explained that the analysis was conducted using facilities at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) public health laboratory and laboratories led by Professor Christian Happi at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.
“That case appears to be closely related to the case identified in the index case in Kenya,” Pate said.
He noted that there was no evidence of travel by the Kenyan index case linking it directly to Nigeria, adding that the genetic relationship between the viruses did not, on its own, establish the route of transmission.
“There is no evidence of travel of that index case in Kenya that links it to Nigeria, but the viruses are apparent to be related,” he stated.
According to him, further investigations may provide a clearer understanding of how the infection originated and spread, noting that viruses undergo genetic changes over time.
Pate said the government had activated its public health response through an incident management system coordinated by the NCDC and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
He added that relevant response structures were being mobilised to strengthen surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control, and other measures needed to contain the virus.
He also disclosed that authorities were refining guidelines on mass gatherings to protect public health while ensuring that decisions remained guided by scientific evidence and established best practices.
The Minister, who reassured Nigerians about the country’s preparedness, said the nation had the public health expertise, laboratory capacity and institutional structures required to manage the situation.
“We have assured Nigerians that the public health capacity in our country is robust through the NCDC, through the Federal Ministry of Health, through various laboratories, and a tremendous number of qualified public health experts,” he added.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and comply with preventive measures, warning against actions that could facilitate the spread of the disease into communities.
“We’re reassuring Nigerians that we will continue to work diligently to ensure that we contain this virus as much as possible, and that we avoid a situation that it spills over to the communities,” he said.
He added: “There is no need to panic, but it’s important to follow public health preventive measures that have been clearly identified.”
Pate emphasised that Ebola is primarily transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person or someone who has died from the disease, as well as contaminated materials. It is not an airborne infection spread through the air in the manner of measles.
He said healthcare workers would receive additional training on infection prevention and control, while hospitals would be sensitised to strengthen their preparedness and ability to identify and manage suspected cases safely.
He cautioned against spreading unverified reports on social media, urging Nigerians to obtain information and updates only from credible authorities, including the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
He said the government would continue monitoring the situation and provide updates as investigations progress, reaffirming its commitment to preventing further transmission and protecting public health.