Governments in Nigeria’s South-East have intensified surveillance and activated emergency preparedness measures against a possible Ebola Virus Disease outbreak following a reported case in Abuja.
Abia, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states said they were strengthening disease detection, alerting healthcare workers and preparing facilities to manage suspected cases, although none had reported a confirmed Ebola infection at the time of the announcements.
The measures include improved monitoring at entry points, public health awareness campaigns, infection prevention protocols and the readiness of rapid response teams to contain any potential spread.
The renewed efforts reflect growing concern among health authorities over the need for early detection and coordinated action to prevent the disease from spreading across the region.
In Abia State, the government is working to strengthen isolation facilities and procure essential protective equipment for healthcare workers.
The Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Dr Blossom Uma-Kalu, said consultations had begun among relevant departments and agencies to assess existing preparedness and identify areas requiring urgent attention.
She disclosed that additional funding was needed to obtain personal protective equipment, thermometers, hand sanitisers and other essential supplies.
According to her, the Infectious Disease Hospital in Aba was nearing completion, while an isolation facility at a specialist hospital in Umuahia was undergoing remodelling.
The state was also assessing another facility that could be adapted for isolation purposes if the need arose.
Uma-Kalu said health workers and public health teams had been alerted following communication from the Federal Ministry of Health about the reported case in Abuja.
She added that the government was preparing a public health advisory to educate residents on Ebola symptoms, preventive measures and emergency contacts for reporting suspected infections.
In Enugu State, the government has intensified surveillance across all 17 local government areas and reactivated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George O. Ugwu, said no Ebola case had been confirmed in the state, assuring residents that the government was working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Port Health Services and other relevant agencies.
Ugwu noted that Enugu’s position as a major travel and commercial hub, particularly through the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, made enhanced monitoring necessary.
He said rapid response teams and technical personnel were on standby to respond to suspected cases.
The commissioner urged public and private health facilities to promptly report suspected infections, isolate cases in line with established protocols and maintain strict infection prevention and control measures.
Anambra State is also strengthening monitoring at strategic locations, including the Chinua Achebe International Airport in Umueri, motor parks, banks and other public places.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Ben Obidike, said surveillance officers would screen passengers arriving from Abuja, Lagos and other African countries as part of efforts to improve early detection.
He disclosed that 40 persons of interest had been monitored, with 33 completing their monitoring period and being cleared, while seven remained under active follow-up. All seven were reportedly stable.
Obidike said the state had developed an Ebola preparedness and operational plan covering surveillance, rapid response, laboratory coordination, referrals, infection prevention, public communication and logistics.
He urged residents to report unusual illnesses and unexplained deaths promptly, while warning against spreading rumours or disclosing the identities of people under monitoring.
In Ebonyi State, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ikenna Ekuma, said the government had introduced precautionary measures, established an equipped isolation centre and trained health workers on infection prevention and control.
He advised residents to maintain proper hygiene, avoid contact with the bodily fluids of sick persons, cook bush meat thoroughly and exercise caution during burials involving unexplained deaths.
Ekuma also encouraged residents who develop unusual or severe symptoms to seek prompt medical attention.
Meanwhile, efforts to obtain comments from the Imo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Chioma Egu, were unsuccessful. She and the ministry’s Permanent Secretary were unavailable when a correspondent visited the ministry, while calls to the commissioner’s telephone line went unanswered.
Across the region, health authorities have emphasised that public cooperation, early reporting and strict adherence to preventive measures remain essential to preventing a potential outbreak.
They have urged residents to remain calm, avoid misinformation and rely on verified updates from government health agencies.
The coordinated response comes as states seek to strengthen their readiness to detect and contain suspected infections before they develop into a wider public health emergency.
The reported case in Abuja and the preparedness measures described above are based on the information provided by the respective state officials. No confirmed Ebola case was reported in the four South-East states in the supplied account.
