The Federal Government has confirmed a case of Ebola virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and identified 44 close contacts who are being traced and monitored to prevent further transmission.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, announced the development following laboratory confirmation of the case.
Pate said health authorities had activated established emergency response mechanisms and commenced contact tracing in line with national and international public health protocols.
He said the 44 identified contacts were being followed up by response teams, while relevant agencies were working to determine the source of the infection and establish whether any additional cases had occurred.
The minister urged residents of the FCT to remain calm and rely only on information released by the Federal Ministry of Health and other authorised government agencies.
He advised members of the public to observe basic preventive measures, including regular handwashing, avoiding direct contact with bodily fluids and promptly reporting suspected symptoms to health authorities.
Ebola virus disease is a severe illness that can cause fever, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in some cases, bleeding. The disease can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person or someone who has died from the infection.
Pate said the government was working with the FCT Administration, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare facilities and other partners to contain the case and prevent further spread.
He assured residents that the government would provide regular updates as investigations progressed and urged anyone who had been in close contact with the confirmed patient to cooperate fully with health officials.
The minister also warned against spreading unverified information, saying misinformation could undermine the response and create unnecessary panic.