The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has dismissed reports of an Ebola outbreak in Abuja, assuring residents that the city remains free of the disease.
The Mandate Secretary for Health and Human Services, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, stated this while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday.
She explained that the only suspected case, a passenger who arrived the country aboard a flight from Rwanda, had tested negative for both Ebola Virus Disease and Marburg Virus.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had earlier confirmed that two recent suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever in the FCT returned negative results. However, the agency said further tests were ongoing for other conditions such as Lassa fever and dengue fever.
Dr Fasawe attributed the quick response to the active surveillance system set up by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, through the recently established Emergency Operations Centre.
“On behalf of the Minister, I say today that Ebola is not in FCT. Confirmed, verified, and said with authority,” she stressed.
She commended the suspected patient for immediately seeking medical attention, and the hospital, Nisa Premier, for activating the proper infectious disease protocols by alerting health authorities.
According to her, contact tracing of all passengers on the flight had also been carried out, and no further risk was detected.
The Mandate Secretary advised residents to take health concerns seriously and to avoid self-diagnosing every fever as malaria.
“If you have any sign of illness, especially fever or bleeding from any orifice, report immediately to the nearest health centre. It is a big emergency and early reporting saves lives,” she cautioned.
