Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urged the authorities to sustain contact tracing and protect frontline health workers following the confirmed Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Atiku made the call on Tuesday in a post on X, hours after the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare confirmed the case.
The confirmed case comes 12 years after Nigeria’s last outbreak.
According to Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the patient is a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda and was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received treatment for several days before laboratory confirmation on October 20.
The minister added that she is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.
Reacting, Atiku said, “The confirmed case of Ebola in the Federal Capital Territory is deeply concerning. My thoughts are with the patient, and I commend the health professionals working with urgency to contain the infection and protect the public.
“In a moment like this, Nigerians deserve calm, clear information and decisive action. I urge the authorities to sustain contact tracing, support those affected and protect the frontline workers risking their own safety to care for others.”
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) also called on Nigerians to follow expert guidance and avoid misinformation.
“I call on every Nigerian to follow the guidance of health experts and share only verified information. The media has an important role in informing the public responsibly and helping prevent fear and misinformation.
“Let us stand together, support our health workers and do everything necessary to contain this case swiftly. The safety of every Nigerian must remain our shared priority,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government said it has identified 44 close contacts of the index case so far, including healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and travel contacts, and has activated emergency response with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the FCT Health Services Secretariat.
FG has also directed all public and private health facilities nationwide to maintain a high index of suspicion, promptly isolate suspected cases and report to public health authorities, while surveillance has been intensified at entry points.