Oyo govt strengthens Ebola surveillance across 33 LGAs

The Oyo State Government has intensified its preparedness against the threat of Ebola virus disease, activating surveillance arrangements across the state’s 33 local government areas and strengthening infection prevention measures to guard against a possible outbreak.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, disclosed that the state began taking proactive steps in June 2026, bringing together relevant ministries, health institutions, epidemiologists and other stakeholders to coordinate its response to infectious disease threats.

Ajetunmobi, however, urged residents not to panic, spread rumours or ignore suspicious symptoms, stressing that early detection and community cooperation were critical to preventing the spread of the potentially deadly disease.

She said the state’s preparedness framework involved the Ministries of Health, Environment and Information, agricultural authorities, the University of Ibadan, the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and relevant disease surveillance teams.

According to her, the multisectoral approach recognises that infectious diseases may involve animal-to-human transmission, environmental factors and human activities, requiring coordinated action across different sectors.

The commissioner said disease surveillance notification officers had been alerted across the 33 local government areas to identify warning signs, report suspected cases and sensitise residents.

She identified sudden fever, severe headache, unusual tiredness, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhoea as symptoms of Ebola, warning that the disease could initially resemble malaria or typhoid fever.

She urged residents not to dismiss persistent symptoms, particularly if they had possibly been exposed to an infected person or had travelled to an area experiencing an outbreak.

Ebola spreads primarily through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person who has developed symptoms, as well as through contaminated materials. It can also be transmitted through contact with infected animals or the bodies of people who have died from the disease.

The commissioner said the state had produced public enlightenment materials and planned to intensify radio jingles and billboard campaigns to improve awareness.

She added that infection prevention and control training was ongoing for healthcare workers, with plans to extend sensitisation to private medical facilities.

Ajetunmobi also identified laboratory safety, personal protective equipment, contact tracing and coordination with relevant travel health authorities as important components of the state’s preparedness.

She disclosed that the infectious disease centre at Olodo remained operational, while the government would assess the need to reactivate or adapt additional isolation facilities if required.

Calling for community cooperation, the commissioner warned that concealing suspected cases or spreading unverified information could undermine efforts to protect public health.

“Do not panic, do not spread rumours, and do not ignore suspicious symptoms” was the central message of her advisory.

She urged residents to seek prompt medical advice if symptoms developed following possible exposure and to follow information issued by recognised public health authorities.