The House of Representatives has called for increased public awareness and early preparations for isolation camps following the confirmation of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The lawmakers made the call on Wednesday, urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and the Nigerian Government to activate the strategies used to contain the Ebola outbreak in 2014.
The House also mandated its Committee on Infectious Diseases to take immediate action to ensure the prompt implementation of its resolutions.
According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, laboratory tests confirmed the imported case of Ebola virus disease.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, Pate said the patient was a woman who had recently travelled to East Africa, particularly Uganda, and returned to Nigeria with symptoms on October 7. Her condition reportedly worsened four days later before tests confirmed the infection.
A government statement said the woman arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda and was admitted to a private hospital, where she received treatment for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed.
“The patient, a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda, was admitted to a private hospital… where she received care for several days before the diagnosis was confirmed,” the statement said.
“She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care.”
Pate said contact tracing had commenced, with 44 contacts identified, while surveillance was being strengthened at the country’s points of entry.
He added that the Ministry of Health, the FCT Health Secretariat, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners were working together to contain the infection and prevent further transmission.
The minister urged public and private health facilities to remain on high alert and advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for possible Ebola cases.
He also called on Nigerians to remain calm and vigilant as health authorities continued their response.
Pate advised the public to practise good hygiene, watch for symptoms such as fever, weakness, headache and diarrhoea, and cooperate with public health officials.
He said the government was managing the situation and pledged to provide timely and transparent updates as containment efforts continued.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, or with contaminated materials. Symptoms may include fever, headache, severe weakness, vomiting and diarrhoea.