The Ogun State Government says it has strengthened its Ebola surveillance system after the confirmation of a case in Abuja, disclosing that 111 travellers from high-risk countries have been monitored and discharged from follow-up.
The state government said no Ebola case had been recorded in Ogun as of Wednesday, October 21, 2026, while urging residents to observe preventive measures and avoid spreading unverified information.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the state had heightened its preparedness since the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared an Ebola outbreak in March 2026.
She said the 111 persons of interest had completed the required surveillance period and were subsequently discharged from follow-up.
According to Coker, the state’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre is coordinating preparedness and response activities to ensure the prompt identification, reporting and management of suspected cases.
She added that the government had trained disease surveillance officers, port health officials, health educators, clinicians and community informants on appropriate response procedures.
National guidelines and protocols had also been adapted for use in the state, while public awareness campaigns and infection prevention measures in healthcare facilities were being intensified.
Coker urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, stressing that early detection and prompt reporting were crucial to preventing the spread of the disease.
She explained that Ebola symptoms could appear between two and 21 days after exposure and might include fever, severe weakness, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Some patients could also experience unexplained bleeding or bruising.
However, she cautioned that the symptoms could occur in other illnesses and did not automatically indicate Ebola infection.
The commissioner said the disease spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who has developed symptoms, the body of someone who has died from Ebola, or contaminated materials.
She advised residents to wash their hands regularly with soap and running water, use alcohol-based hand sanitiser when necessary and avoid contact with the body fluids of anyone suspected of having the disease.
Anyone who believes they may have been exposed should contact public health authorities promptly, even if symptoms have not developed, she said.
Coker further advised people who develop symptoms after possible exposure to avoid close contact with others and contact health officials before visiting a healthcare facility to ensure safe referral.
She urged residents to cooperate with surveillance teams, provide accurate information when contacted and avoid touching the bodies of people who die from suspected or confirmed Ebola, noting that safe burials should be handled by trained personnel.
The commissioner also called on healthcare workers in public and private facilities to identify and isolate suspected cases promptly, observe strict infection prevention protocols and immediately notify disease surveillance officers in their local government areas.
She said the state would continue to work with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners to monitor developments and protect public health.
Residents can report suspected cases or seek guidance through the State Epidemiologist on 08084250881 or the NCDC toll-free line on 6232.
Discussion0