The Taraba State Government has directed public and private hospitals to immediately report suspected Ebola cases and announced plans to introduce fever screening at the state’s airport as part of efforts to prevent a possible outbreak.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Bordiya Gbansheya Buma, disclosed this on Monday in Jalingo, following reports of an Ebola case in Abuja.
Buma said the government was strengthening disease surveillance and working with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other relevant agencies to improve preparedness.
He said healthcare workers would receive training on identifying and managing suspected cases, while public awareness campaigns would be intensified to educate residents on the symptoms, transmission and prevention of the disease.
The planned airport screening is expected to support early detection by identifying travellers with fever who may require further medical assessment.
Buma urged residents to watch for symptoms including fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, particularly after possible exposure to an infected person.
He advised anyone experiencing such symptoms following a possible exposure to seek prompt medical attention and provide relevant information to health officials.
The commissioner explained that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person who is showing symptoms.
He advised residents to maintain proper hand hygiene, avoid contact with the body fluids of suspected patients and promptly report possible cases to health authorities.
Buma also urged residents to cooperate with health officials during contact-tracing exercises to help identify people who may have been exposed to an infected person.
He warned against spreading unverified information and stigmatising people suspected of having the disease, calling for calm and cooperation with health authorities.
The commissioner said residents should rely on official health advisories rather than rumours circulating on social media.
He provided the NCDC’s toll-free number, 6232, which he said operates round the clock, for enquiries about Ebola and reports of suspected cases.
The state government urged residents to remain vigilant as it strengthens surveillance and prepares healthcare facilities to respond to any suspected infection.
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