The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assured Nigerians that the country remains free of Ebola and Marburg viruses.
This comes after two recent suspected cases in Abuja were tested and confirmed negative.
Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday,
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He explained that one of the suspected cases involved a traveller who had arrived in Abuja from Kigali and immediately sought medical attention after feeling unwell.
“The decision to report early, combined with the vigilance of the attending clinician and hospital team, ensured that our public health system was promptly activated and that the risk to the public was minimised,” Idris stated.
He added that both suspected cases underwent rigorous testing and were confirmed negative for viral haemorrhagic fevers, including Ebola and Marburg.
Dr. Idris further explained that the NCDC has conducted a Dynamic Risk Assessment following reports of Ebola outbreaks in other African countries.
He noted that preventive measures have been strengthened nationwide.
“We have heightened surveillance at all points of entry and placed isolation and treatment facilities on alert,” he said.
“We have also prepositioned critical infection-prevention and control supplies across the country,” he added.
Reassuring Nigerians, Idris emphasized that there was no cause for panic but urged citizens to remain vigilant.
“We encourage everyone to report to health facilities immediately if they feel unwell, especially after international travel,” he added.
The NCDC maintained that its rapid response teams remain on standby to handle any emerging threats while collaborating with international partners to safeguard public health.